Document unstack system for currency recycling automated banking machine

ABSTRACT

An automated banking machine ( 10 ) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport ( 70 ) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters ( 92, 94, 96, 98 ). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output area ( 50 ) of the machine.

This Appln claims benefit of Prov. No. 60/067,319 filed Nov. 28, 1997.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically thisinvention relates to an automated banking machine that enables currencybills, notes or other documents deposited by one customer to beidentified and stored in the machine, and later selectively dispensed toanother customer.

BACKGROUND ART

Automated banking machines are known in the prior art. Automatic bankingmachines are used to carry out transactions of value. A popular type ofautomated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM). Othertypes of automated banking machines are used to count and dispense cash.These machines are often used by tellers or customer servicerepresentatives in banking and other transaction environments. Othertypes of automated banking machines are used to make or receivepayments, to dispense or receive tickets, travelers checks, scrip, cashor other documents or items of value, or to electronically check ortransfer funds.

ATM machines commonly in use accept deposits from customers and processthe deposits using devices which are separate from the devices whichdispense currency and other items to customers. Most common ATMdepositories require customers to place their deposits in an envelope.The envelope is accepted into the machine for storage. Although thecustomer indicates the value of the contents of the envelope, thecustomer's account is often not credited for the amount of deposit untilthe envelope is removed from the ATM by bank personnel and the contentsverified.

Other ATM machines have the capability of receiving checks and othernegotiable instruments. Such machines may include a device such as isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,467. Devices of this type can be used tocancel and produce electronic images of checks which are deposited intoan ATM machine. The canceled checks are stored in the machine for laterremoval by bank personnel.

Currency notes, travelers checks and other documents and sheet materialsthat are commonly dispensed by ATMs, are generally housed in the machinein removable canisters. Sheets are dispensed from the canisters anddelivered by the machine to customers. Periodically these canisters mustbe removed from the machine and the supply of sheets thereinreplenished. This is a labor intensive activity. To replace thecanisters the secure portion of the ATM must be opened. The canisters inthe machine must be removed and new canisters, which include a newsupply of sheets, placed in the machine. Alternatively the canisters inthe machine may be opened, money or other sheets added, and thenreplaced. After the canisters are replaced the secure portion of themachine must be closed.

The replacement or resupply of canisters often requires transportingfilled canisters to the machine and returning partially depletedcanisters to a remote location. While efforts have been made in thedesign of canisters to minimize opportunities for pilferage, there isalways some risk. Therefore such activities are normally carried out byarmed couriers. More than one person is often assigned to any task wherethere is access to the cash or other valuables in the machine. Becausenumerous individuals may be involved in loading replacement canisters,transporting replacement canisters to ATM machines, replacing thecanisters, returning the removed canisters and auditing the contents ofreturned canisters, it is often difficult to identify the cause of anylosses.

The need to periodically replace currency canisters is an inconveniencebecause the ATM must be shut down. Customers are not able to use the ATMwhile the supply of currency is being replenished, and lostopportunities to conduct transactions and customer dissatisfaction mayresult. Customers will also be disappointed if replenishment operationsare not performed frequently enough and the machine runs out of currencyor other documents.

Other types of automated banking machines, such as those that dispensecash to customer service representatives, have the same drawbacks as ATMmachines. Periodic replenishment of the currency or other valuabledocuments that are dispensed by the machine must be done to keep themachine in operation. While such machines speed the cash dispensingservice to the customer, there is a significant cost associated withsegregating, preparing and transporting the currency before it is placedwithin the machine.

Other banking machines have been developed for identifying and countingcurrency. Such machines may be used in banking and vending environments.Machines which count currency generally require that the currency bepre-oriented a particular way to obtain proper identification. This istime consuming for the person operating the machine. Many currencycounting machines also tend to reject valid notes due to naturaldeterioration which occurs in U.S. currency. The speed associated withsuch currency counting and accepting machines is also less thandesirable in many cases.

Automated banking machines which are capable of receiving currency,identifying the particular type and denomination of currency, storingthe currency and later dispensing it to a customer have been used incountries outside the United States. Such recycling machines arefeasible in countries such as Japan where currency notes include specialfeatures which facilitate their identification by machines. However,such recycling machines have not generally been feasible with U.S.currency notes which generally do not include special features thatfacilitate identification by machine. U.S. currency notes also aresubject to a wide range of conditions such as wear, soiling andbleaching which do not render a note unfit for use, but which render itvery difficult for a machine to properly identify.

The currency recycling type banking machines that have been developedalso generally suffer from slow operating speeds. This is particularlytrue when the machines are used to process a large number of notes.Often such machines require that the notes be oriented in a particularway and considerable time is associated with the rejection of notes dueto improper orientation. The handling of the sheets to facilitateidentification and storage is also a time consuming process. Once asheet has been initially identified as proper and stored in the machine,there is generally no check to be sure that the original determinationof the type and character of the note was correct. As a result, acustomer may receive a misidentified note. This can reduce customersatisfaction.

Thus there exists a need for a currency recycling automated bankingmachine that is more reliable, operates more quickly, and which can beused with U.S. and other currencies as well as other documents whichhave a wide range of properties.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a currency recyclingautomated banking machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that is reliable and that operatesmore rapidly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that works with currency notes andother documents that have a wide variety of properties.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that is capable of unstacking andseparating documents input in a stack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine that orients documents relative to a sheet path whilemoving such documents at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that can transport a plurality ofdocuments in a sheet path concurrently and at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that identifies documents and whichreturns unidentifiable documents to a customer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables a customer to depositdocuments into the banking machine, and after the documents have beenidentified, to elect whether to deposit the documents or to have themreturned.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that can identify depositeddocuments regardless of orientation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables selectively storingdeposited documents in storage areas in the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables selectively storingdeposited documents in removable canisters.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables recovery of documentsstored in storage areas and dispensing the documents to customers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine in which documents may concurrently be transported,oriented, stored in storage areas and dispensed from other storage areaswithin the machine.

Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent in thefollowing Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention and the appendedclaims.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention by a currency recycling automated banking machine. Themachine has a document handling mechanism which includes an input/outputarea in which a customer may insert documents that are to be depositedand from which a customer withdrawing documents may receive documents.

A customer deposits documents in a stack through an opening in thehousing of the machine. The documents are moved from the input/outputarea into a central transport. In an unstack area documents are removedfrom the stack one by one by an unstack device and separated into astream of single separate documents. The documents move along a documentpath in the central transport. The documents moving in the centraltransport are each deskewed by a deskew device to properly angularlyorient them relative to the direction of travel along the document path.The documents are further moved by an alignment device to align theminto a proper centered relation in the document path. The documents arefurther moved through a turnover device which turns the stream ofdocuments while maintaining the angular and centered orientationthereof.

Each document is then moved past a document type identifier device . Theidentifier device operates to classify the documents as eitheridentifiable which are acceptable to the machine, or unidentifiable orotherwise not acceptable. The identification device preferably operatesto identify the type and/or denomination of each document. Identifiableacceptable documents are directed into an escrow area whileunidentifiable or otherwise unacceptable documents are directed into areject area of the input/output area of the machine.

A customer is informed of any unidentifiable documents through input andoutput devices on an interface of the machine. Any unidentifiabledocuments may then be delivered to the customer from the reject area.Alternatively, depending on the programming of the machine and/or inputsby the customer, such rejected documents may be stored in the machinefor later analysis or routed through the central transport again pastthe identification device.

Properly identified documents are initially held in the escrow area. Theoutput devices on the interface of the machine indicate indicia to thecustomer representative of the type and/or value of the identifiabledocuments. This type and value data is calculated by the control systemof the machine. The customer preferably is enabled to select whether tohave such documents returned or to deposit such documents. If thecustomer elects to have the documents returned, the documents are passedout of the input/output area through the opening in the housing and thecustomer's account is not credited for the value of the documents.

If the customer elects to deposit the documents the documents are againmoved through the central transport in a stream of rapidly movingseparated documents. The documents are again identified by theidentification device. However, rather than being routed to the rejectand escrow areas, the identified documents are now preferably routed bythe control system of the machine to selected storage areas. The storageareas are locations in which documents of the particular types arestored in the machine. The storage areas in the machine of the preferredembodiment are areas in a plurality of removable canisters. The controlsystem of the machine operates to cause the customer's account to becredited for the value of the deposited documents.

The same customer who deposited documents or a subsequent customerwishing to make a withdrawal from the machine may receive documents thathave been previously stored in the storage areas. Document dispensingmechanisms associated with the storage areas selectively removedocuments from the storage areas responsive to the control system androute the documents to the central transport of the machine. As thedocuments move through the central transport they pass theidentification device. The type and denomination of each document beingdispensed is verified. This assures that the initial identification ofthe documents made when they were deposited in the machine is correct.This third verification reduces the risk that a customer withdrawingdocuments from the machine will be given an improper document. Thedocuments are removed from the storage areas concurrently so as tofacilitate rapid operation of the machine and are controlled in movementthrough the remote transport segments and the central transport toassure that they move as a stream of separated documents as they passthe identification device.

The identified documents to be dispensed to the customer are moved bythe central transport to an escrow area. From the escrow area they arepresented to the customer through the opening in the housing of themachine. The control system of the machine operates to cause thecustomer's account to be charged or debited for the documents that havebeen withdrawn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of currency recyclingautomated banking machine of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the functions performed by the machineshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the components of the centraltransport and the input/output area of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 schematically representing input of astack of documents by a customer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the input/output area shown receiving astack of documents from a customer.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the document stack after ithas been placed inside the machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing an inserteddocument stack being moved from the input/output area of the machine tothe document unstack area of the machine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the stack moving from theinput/output area to the unstack area.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the unstack area of the machine prior toarrival of the stack.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the unstack area showing a stack ofdocuments being transported into the unstack area.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the stack of documentsmoving into position for unstacking.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the documents in position forunstacking in the unstack area.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents passing from theunstack area through the central transport to the reject and escrowareas of the machine.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing a document being unstackedin the unstack area.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a document being removedfrom the stack and moving past the sensors for sensing doubles andpre-centering.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a double note being retracted intothe stack.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of a mechanism used for unstackingnotes in the unstack area.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a shuttle half which is part of adeskewing mechanism, the shuttle half being shown in a note passingposition.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the shuttle half in a notestopping position.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a shuttle used for deskewing and centeringdocuments in the central transport.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a skewed note.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 21 showing the note beingdeskewed by the operation of the shuttle.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 showing the note alignedtransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport but inan off center condition.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the note shown in FIG. 23 having beenmoved by the shuttle to a centered position in the central transport.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing the shuttle moving a documenttransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the pre-centering and centering circuitryused in connection with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of the input/output area of the machine asdocuments are delivered from the central transport.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing unidentifiabledocuments being delivered out of the machine to a customer.

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of the input/output area showingunidentifiable documents being moved out of the machine.

FIG. 30 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 29 showing unidentifiabledocuments being routed into the machine for storage.

FIG. 31 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents held inescrow being routed into the central transport for storage in themachine.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view of the input/output area moving thedocuments held in the escrow area.

FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing a portion of the drive mechanism forthe drive belts in the input/output area.

FIG. 34 is an isometric schematic view of the input/output area drivemechanism.

FIG. 35 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents thathave been previously held in the escrow area being unstacked and passedthrough the central transport and into the machine for storage instorage areas of document storage canisters.

FIG. 36 is a schematic view of a belt and carriage roll arrangement usedfor transporting documents in the central transport of the machine.

FIG. 37 is a side view of a guide used in connection with the carriagetransport rolls.

FIG. 38 is a cross sectional side view of the carriage rolls, documentbelts and guides shown in supporting connection with a document.

FIG. 39 is a side view of a gate mechanism used for routing documentsmoving in remote transport segments, with the gate mechanism shown in aposition enabling a document to pass directly therethrough.

FIG. 40 is a side view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in acondition passing a document from the remote transport segment to acanister transport.

FIG. 41 is a view similar to FIG. 39 with the gate mechanism shownpassing a document from a canister transport into the remote transportsegment.

FIG. 42 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in a conditionthat enables a document to pass from the canister transport into theremote transport segment, with the document moving in an opposeddirection from that shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 with a documentpassing from the remote transport segment into the canister transportwith the document moving in an opposed direction from that shown in FIG.40.

FIG. 44 is a schematic view of an arrangement of belts and pulleysadjacent to the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 45 is a schematic view of a sheet transport exemplifying theprinciples used for moving documents in the remote transport segmentsand in the canister transports.

FIG. 46 is a cross sectional schematic view showing a document moving ina transport of the type shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a top plan view of a lid covering a storage area within arecycling currency canister.

FIG. 48 is a side cross sectional view of a storage area in a currencycanister shown with a sheet moving towards the storage area.

FIG. 49 is a view similar to FIG. 48 showing the sheet partiallyaccepted into the storage area.

FIG. 50 is a front plan view of the feed wheels, take away wheels andthumper wheels adjacent to the storage area, with the sheet shown movinginto the storage area as shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a view similar to FIG. 49 with the sheet moved into thestorage area but positioned above the stack of documents held therein.

FIG. 52 is a view similar to FIG. 50 with the accepted sheet integratedinto the stack.

FIG. 53 is a view similar to FIG. 52 with the newly accepted sheet heldas part of the stack by fingers positioned adjacent to the storage area.

FIG. 54 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing the flow of sheetsfrom a storage area to an escrow area in response to a document dispenserequest input by a user.

FIG. 55 is a cross sectional view of a storage area including a stack ofsheets therein from which one sheet is to be removed as part of adispensing operation.

FIG. 56 is a view similar to FIG. 55 in which the fingers holding thestack of sheets in the storage area have been retracted to enable thesheets to engage the inner surface of the bin door.

FIG. 57 is a view similar to FIG. 56 in which the bin door is raisedwith the feed wheels and thumper wheels shown beginning to move so as topick a sheet from the stack.

FIG. 58 is a view similar to FIG. 57 showing the feed and thumper wheelsmoved to a position in which a top sheet in the stack is being removedtherefrom.

FIG. 59 is a front view of the feed wheels, thumper wheels, stripperwheel and take away wheels in engagement with a sheet as it is beingremoved from the stack in the manner shown in FIG. 58.

FIG. 60 is a view similar to FIG. 58 with the sheet shown having beenremoved from the storage area and being sensed by a doubles detector.

FIG. 61 is a top plan view of the bin door overlying a storage areashowing a sheet having been removed therefrom and moving towards a gatemechanism adjacent to the remote transport.

FIG. 62 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing a stack of sheetsthat have been dispensed from storage locations being delivered to auser of the machine.

FIG. 63 is a schematic view of the architecture of the control system ofa preferred embodiment of the machine.

FIGS. 64-68 are a simplified flow chart showing an exemplary transactionflow for a deposit transaction conducted at a currency recyclingautomated banking machine of the present invention.

FIGS. 69 and 70 are a simplified flow chart showing the transaction flowof a withdrawal transaction conducted at the machine.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there is showntherein a currency recycling automated banking machine representing oneembodiment of the present invention generally indicated 10. The machineincludes a housing 12. Housing 12 includes a customer interface in aninterface area generally indicated 14. Interface area 14 includescomponents used for communicating with a user of the machine. Thesecomponents may include a display 16 which serves as part of an outputdevice. The interface area may also include a keypad 18 and/or a cardreader 20 which serve as portions of manually actuatable input devicesthrough which a user may input information or instructions into themachine. It should be understood that these devices are exemplary andother input and output devices such as a touch screen displays, audiospeakers, iris scan devices, fingerprint reading devices, microphones,voice recognition devices, user recognition devices, infraredtransmitters and receivers and other devices which are capable ofreceiving or providing information may be used.

The machine also includes other devices which are indicatedschematically. Such devices may include a receipt printer 22 whichprovides receipts to customers concerning activities related to theirtransactions. Other devices indicated schematically include a journalprinter 24 for making a paper record of transactions. A passbook printer26 indicated schematically may also be included within the housing ofthe machine. A check imaging device 28 may also be included for purposesof producing electronic images of checks deposited into the machine aswell as for canceling such checks. Such a check imaging device may be ofthe type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,467 or other mechanism providingperforming an imaging function.

Devices 22, 24, 26 and 28 are exemplary and other devices may also beincluded in the machine such as video cameras for connecting to a remotelocation, an envelope deposit accepting mechanism, ticket printingdevices, devices for printing statements and other devices. It shouldfurther be understood that while the embodiment described herein is inthe form of an automated teller machine (ATM) the present invention maybe used in connection with other types of automated banking machines,which for purposes of this description includes any device or systemwhich operates to electronically affect a transfer of value between twoor more entities.

The machine 10 includes a control system generally indicated 30. Thecontrol system is in operative connection with the components of themachine and controls the operation thereof in accordance with programmedinstructions. Control system 30 also provides for communications withother computers concerning transactions conducted at the machine. Suchcommunications may be provided by any suitable means, such as throughtelephone lines, wireless radio link or through a connection through aproprietary transaction network.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has the capability ofrecycling currency or other sheets or documents representative of valuereceived from a customer. For purposes of this description except whereindicated, the words documents, sheets, notes and currency are usedinterchangeably to refer to the sheet materials processed by theinvention. The process of recycling involves receiving the documents inbulk from a customer, identifying the type of documents deposited andstoring the documents in appropriate locations within the machine. Thestored documents may then be selectively retrieved and provided tocustomers who wish to withdraw funds from the machine.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes devices whichcomprise the functional components schematically indicated in FIG. 2.These functional components include an input/output function whichreceives documents from and delivers documents to users of the machine.An unstack function 34 receives documents from the input/output function32. The unstack function serves to separate the documents from the stackand deliver them into a sheet path in separate, spaced relation.

The functional components of the machine further include a deskewfunction 36. As later discussed in detail, the deskew function operatesto orient the documents so that they are properly transversely alignedwith a sheet path. An alignment function 38 further orients the movingdocuments by centering them with regard to the sheet path. After thedocuments have been aligned they are passed to an identify function 40.The identify function operates to determine the type of document passingthrough the sheet path. In the preferred embodiment the identifyfunction includes determining the type and denomination of a currencybill or other document. The identify function also preferably determinesif a document appears suspect or is simply not identifiable.

The identify function is linked to the input/output function so thatcustomers may have any suspect documents or identifiable documentsreturned to them, rather than be deposited in the machine. The identifyfunction is also linked to document store and recover functions 42, 44,46 and 48. The store and recover functions operate to store documents inselected locations, and to recover those documents for purposes ofdispensing the documents to a customer. For purposes of this discussiondocuments handled by the invention will be generally flat, rectangularsheet type documents with a front face, a back face and four side edgesextending between the front and back face. However embodiments of theinvention may handle other document configurations.

Referring again to FIG. 1 the apparatus which performs the previouslydescribed functions is shown schematically. The input/output function isperformed in an input/output area generally indicated 50. Theinput/output area is adjacent to an opening 52 in the housing of themachine. Access through opening 52 is controlled by a movable gate 54which is shown in the closed position in FIG. 1.

Input/output area 50 includes a document handling mechanism with fourbelt type transports. These belt type transports are devices suitablefor moving a stack of sheets, and preferably each comprise a pluralityof belts such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,481. The facing andopposed flights of first belts 56 and second belts 58 serve as stacksupporting members and bound a delivery/reject area 60 which extendsvertically between the belts. As later explained, belts 56 and 58 aremovable vertically relative to one another and move transversely incoordinated relation to transport a stack of sheets positionedtherebetween.

The document handling mechanism which includes input/output area 50 alsoincludes third belts 62 and fourth belts 64. The facing and opposedflights of third belts 62 and fourth belts 64 vertically bound an escrowarea generally indicated 66. Belts 62 and 64 are similar to belts 56 and58 and are capable of moving a stack of documents transverselytherebetween. The belts in the input/output area, as well as gate 54, aswell as other components in the machine which move, are driven or movedby appropriate drives schematically indicated 68 which includeappropriate motors and transmission mechanisms operatively connected tothe various components and which are operated in response to the controlsystem 30. The input/output area can be operated in various modes,examples of which will be discussed hereafter. FIG. 3 shows theinput/output area 50 in greater detail. It should be understood thatwhile the document handling mechanism of the embodiment shown usesopposed belt flights as the document supporting surfaces, otherembodiments of the invention may use combinations of other types ofmoving or stationary surfaces as document supporting surfaces forselectively moving documents thereon.

The input/output area communicates with a central transport generallyindicated 70. Central transport 70 includes an unstack area generallyindicated 72. The unstack area includes a tray 74 which is suitable formoving a stack of documents thereon. Unstack area 72 further includestransport belts 76 and pick belts 78. As later explained in detail, thecomponents in the unstack area operate as an unstack device to separatedocuments and deliver them in spaced relation into the document path ofthe central transport.

The deskew operation also includes doubles sensors 80 for use indetecting instances of double documents which have been removed from astack in the unstack area. These documents can be separated in a mannerlater discussed. Pre-centering sensors are also provided in associationwith the unstack operation, which sensors operate to assure that thedeskew and alignment operations can be performed properly.

From the unstack area sheets are transported to a combined deskew andcentering device 84. Deskew and centering device 84 includes a deskewdevice which functions to angularly align sheets transversely to a sheetpath. It also includes an aligning device which functions totransversely move the sheets so that they are centered relative to thesheet path through the central transport.

From the deskew and centering device, documents change direction bybeing turned on a turnover device which includes carriage rolls 86 andare moved past an identification device 88. Identification device 88 ispreferably of the type shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/749,260 filed Nov. 15, 1996 which is owned by the Assignee of thepresent invention, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. In alternative embodiments, other types of identificationdevices may be used. The identification devices preferably identify thetype and character of passing note. The identification device alsopreferably distinguishes genuine documents such as genuine currencybills from unidentifiable or suspect documents. In this way theidentification device operates to classify the documents as those whichare acceptable to the machine or unacceptable to the machine.

From the identification device, documents are routed selectively inresponse to the position of divert gates schematically indicated 90. Thedivert gates operate as part of a routing device. The divert gates movein response to drives which operate under the control of the controlsystem to direct documents either to the delivery/reject area 60, theescrow area 66 or into the document storage and recovery areas of themachine.

The document storage and recovery areas include recycling canisters 92,94, 96 and 98, which are later described in detail. The recyclingcanisters are preferably removable from the machine by authorizedpersonnel. In the embodiment shown each of the recycling canistersinclude four storage areas therein. These are represented by storageareas 100, 102, 104 and 106 in canister 94. The storage areas providelocations for storing documents that have satisfactorily passed throughthe central transport. Documents are preferably stored in the storageareas with documents of the same type. Documents stored in the storageareas can later be removed or picked therefrom one at a time anddelivered to other customers.

Documents are moved to the canisters through a remote transport whichincludes remote transport segments generally indicated 108, 110, 112 and114. The remote transport segments are preferably arranged in alignedrelation such that documents may be passed between the transportsegments. Each remote transport segment has a media gate mechanismassociated therewith. The media gates generally indicated 116, 118, 120and 122 operate in a manner later explained to selectively directdocuments from the remote transport segments into connection withadjacent canister delivery transports indicated 124, 126, 128 and 130.The canister transports operate in a manner later explained, to movedocuments to and from the storage areas in the canisters.

It should be appreciated that the various components which comprise thegates, transports and storage areas have associated motors and sensors,all of which are in operative connection with the control system 30 forpurposes of sensing and controlling the movement of documentstherethrough.

It should also be noted that in the preferred embodiment of theinvention a dump area generally indicated 132 is provided within thehousing of the machine at the bottom of the remote transport segments.Dump area 132 functions as a receptacle for documents that aredetermined not to be suitable for handling or which are otherwise deemednot suitable for later recovery and dispensing to a customer. In thepreferred embodiment dump area 132 comprises a tray which can be movedoutward on the housing of the machine to facilitate cleaning and removalof documents when the interior of the machine is accessed.

The operation of the currency recycling automated banking machine willnow be explained through an example of the operative steps and functionscarried out in connection with a deposit transaction by a customer. Itshould be understood that this is only an example of one manner in whichthe machine may be operated. Other methods of operation and functionsmay be achieved based on the programming of the machine.

The transaction flow for the deposit transaction is shown in FIGS.64-68. A customer approaching the machine 10 operates the components inthe customer interface area 14 to enable operation of the machine. Thismay include for example insertion of a credit or debit card and theinput of a personal identification number (PIN). Of course other stepsmay be required by the customer to identify themselves to the machine.This may include other modes of operation such as finger printidentification or biometric type devices. These steps which the customergoes through to identify themselves to the machine is represented inFIG. 64 by the customer ID sequence which is indicated 134. The IDsequence is preferably operative to have the machine resolve an accountof the user which is either debited or credited as a result oftransactions carried out at the machine.

After the customer identifies themselves to the machine, the machine isprogrammed to proceed through the main transaction sequence generallyindicated 136. This main transaction sequence preferably provides thecustomer with a menu of the various transaction options that areavailable to be conducted at the machine 10. The transaction flowproceeds in FIG. 64 from a step 138 in which a customer chooses toconduct a deposit transaction which involves the input of documents,such as currency bills or notes.

When the customer indicates that they intend to make a deposit themachine next executes a step 140. In step 140 an inner gate indicated142 in FIGS. 4 and 5 moves to block further access to the interior ofthe machine from delivery/reject area 60. After the inner gate 142 isextended, the program next executes a step 144 in which the front gate54 on the machine is moved to uncover opening 52. These sensors arephoto sensors in the embodiment shown, but may be other types ofpresence sensors in other embodiments. In this position a customer isenabled to insert a stack of documents indicated 146 in FIG. 5 into thedelivery/reject area 60 between belts 58 and 56. As shown in FIG. 5,belts 58 and 56 may also be run inwardly to help to position the stack146 against the inner gate 142.

As shown in FIG. 6, delivery/receipt sensors 148, 150 are positionedinside the housing of the machine adjacent to opening 52. In thetransaction flow, as shown in FIG. 64, a step 152 is executed todetermine if the deposit stack 146 has been moved past the sensors. Adetermination is made at a step 154 as to whether the sensors are clear.If sensors 148 and 150 are not clear, a step 154 is carried out. In step154 efforts are made to clear the sensors. This is done by running thetransport belts 56 and 58 inward at a step 156 and prompting thecustomer at step 158 to input their deposit. A check is then made againto see if the sensors have cleared. Provisions are made in thetransaction flow so that after a number of tries to clear the sensors,the transport belts 56 and 58 are run in reverse to remove anything thathas been input into the machine, and the gate 54 is closed.

If however the sensors 148 and 150 are clear indicating that a stack ofdocuments has been properly inserted, the transaction flow moves to astep 160 in which the front gate 54 is again closed as shown in FIG. 6.The transaction flow then moves on to a step 162 in which the inner gate142 is retracted so that the stack 146 can be further processed in themanner hereafter described.

The stack is next moved as schematically shown in FIG. 7 from thedelivery/reject area 60 to the unstack area 72. This is accomplished asshown in FIG. 65 by moving a carriage which supports fourth belts 64upwards in the input/output area 50 as shown in FIG. 8. The carriage forbelts 64 is moved upward by a drive including a motor and transmissionmechanism to engage a carriage supporting belts 62 and 58 and to move itupward as well. The carriages move upward until stack 146 is sandwichedbetween belts 56 and 58. This is represented by step 164 in FIG. 65.Belts 58 and 56 are then driven to move the stack inwardly toward theunstack area 72.

The unstack area 72 which includes the components which comprise theunstack device, is shown in greater detail in FIG. 9. It includestransport belts 76 and pick belts 78, which are independently operableby motors and/or other suitable driving devices. A strip back stop 166is movably positioned in the area between transport belts 76 and belts168 on tray 74. It should be understood that belts 76, 78 and 168 arearranged to be in intermediate relation when the tray 74 is movedadjacent thereto in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,481 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Unstack area 72 includes an unstack wall 170. Unstack wall 170 includesa plurality of steps 172 thereon, the purpose of which is laterexplained. The steps include in cross section step surfaces that extendgenerally perpendicular to one another. Unstack wall 170 includestherein a plurality of generally vertically extending slots 173. Tray 74includes a plurality of tray projections 174 which extend from an uppersurface of the tray and extend into the slots. Adjacent to pick belt 78are contact stripper wheels indicated 176 and non-contact stripperwheels 178, the function of which is later explained.

In operation of the machine the stack 146 is moved into the unstack areafor unstacking. This is represented by a step 180 in FIG. 65. As shownin FIG. 10, in the step of moving the stack 146 into the unstack area,the tray 74 is moved sufficiently away from the transport belts 76 by amoving mechanism so that stack 146 may be moved therebetween. Thebackstop 166 is raised by a moving mechanism to allow entry of thestack. Transport belts 76 and tray belts 168 move forward so that stack146 moves towards unstack wall 170. In the preferred form of theinvention tray 74 is spring biased upwards and once stack 146 is movedtherebetween the stack is held between belts 168 on tray 74 andtransport belts 76 and pick belts 78 by the biasing force acting on thetray. The moving mechanisms for the backstop, belts and trays are driveswhich include suitable motors and transmission devices.

As shown in FIG. 11, once the stack 146 moves past the backstop 166, thebackstop is lowered by its moving mechanism to be in position behind thestack. As later discussed, the backstop is particularly useful whenstripping double notes which may be picked during the unstack operation.As shown in FIG. 11 belts 78 are further run in the forward direction tomove stack 146 towards wall 170. As shown in FIG. 12 when the stack isfully moved against the wall 170, the angled wall and the steps 172 onthe wall surface tend to splay the sheets in the stack. This splaying ofthe sheets tends to break the surface tension between the adjacentsheets and facilitates the separation of each adjacent sheet from oneanother. It should be noted that the steps 172 are configured in aprogression with the angle of the wall with step surfaces bounding thesteps extending generally upward and step surfaces extending in adirection of sheet travel. The steps are configured such that engagementof the sheets in the stack 146 with the steps 172 generally does notinterfere with the movement of tray 74 upward as sheets are removed fromthe stack. This enables tray 74 to apply a continuous upward biasingforce such that the upper most sheet in the stack engages pick belts 78.

Referring again to the transaction flow in FIG. 65, once the stack hasbeen moved to the unstack position a check is made at a step 182 toverify the presence of bills in the unstack area. Assuming that billsare properly in position the flow then moves to an unstack routine at astep 184. As later explained in detail, the control system 30 of thepresent invention is a novel type control system which facilitates therapid operation of the machine. As represented by phantom step 186 thecontrol system operates to perform tasks concurrently. As a result,rather than unstacking a single note in the manner hereafter describedand then waiting for it to be processed, the preferred embodiment of thecontrol system 30 unstacks a note and as soon as that note has left theunstack area, proceeds to unstack another note. This enables providing astream of separated sheets which are concurrently moving in the centraltransport under control of the control system. This greatly speeds theoperation of the machine.

The operation of the machine in the unstack operation is schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 13. As shown therein, the stack 146 in the unstackarea 72 is separated into a stream of single sheets which are movedthrough the central transport 70 in the direction of Arrows C. The notesare then selectively directed for reasons later explained by a routingmechanism which includes divert gates 90 into either the delivery/rejectarea 60 or the escrow area 66.

The operation of the unstack device to unstack sheets in the unstackarea 72 is explained with reference to FIGS. 14-17. The stack 146 isbiased upwards against the pick belts 78 by the tray 74. The lowerflight of belts 78, which serve as picking members is engaged with thetop sheet in the stack, is moved towards the left in FIG. 14 to pick asheet 188. As shown in FIG. 17 the pick belts 78 are supported onrollers and the faces of the pick belts which engage the sheet extendbeyond the faces at the outer circumference of non-contract stripperwheels 178. Contact stripper wheels 176 are arranged in generallyabutting relation opposite the inner two pick belts 78. As the pickbelts move to the left, as shown in FIG. 14, the contact stripper wheelsand non-contact stripper wheels 176 and 178 do not move, thus moving inan opposed direction relative to the moving pick belts. This serves toengage a back face of the top sheet which is moved from the stack andserves to keep sheets other than the top sheet in the stack.

It should be noted that the configuration of the rolls supporting thepick belts 78 and stripper wheels 176, 178 give sheets a wave orscalloped cross section as shown in sheet 188, as the sheet is pickedform the stack. This deformation of the sheet helps to facilitateseparation of the sheet from the stack. While belts and rolls are usedin the preferred embodiment to impart a wave configuration to thesheets, in other embodiments other combinations of rollers, tracks,projections, fingers, guides and belts may be used to deform and/or movethe sheets.

Referring again to FIG. 14, if the sheet 188 that is moved from thestack is a single sheet, this condition is sensed by the doubles sensors80. This means that the sheet is suitable for movement in the centraltransport. The sheet is then moved past the doubles sensors 80 into thevicinity of take away rolls 190, 192. In response to the sheet beingsensed as a single sheet, take away roll 192 is moved responsive to thecontrol system from the position shown in phantom to the position shownin solid lines in which wherein it is in engagement with the sheet 188.The take away rolls 192, 190 are driven in the directions indicated tomove the sheet away from the stack. The driving of the take away rollsis timed by the control system 30 to assure that sheet 188 is properlyspaced a distance from the proceeding unstacked sheet moving through thecentral transport.

As shown in FIG. 15 sheet 188 is moved by take away rolls 190 and 192which serve as a take away device, past pre-centering sensors 82. Thepre-centering sensors operate in a manner later described to sense theposition of the transversely opposed pair of side edges of the sheet.These edges generally bound the sheet and extend parallel to thedirection of sheet movement. The signals from the pre-centering sensors82 are used by the control system 30 to move a shuttle which serves as asheet catching device and which is associated with deskewing andcentering operations for the sheet. The control system is operative tomove the shuttle transversely in the transport path to a position inwhich it is enabled to catch the moving sheet in the manner that willenable the sheet to be aligned. Preferably the shuttle is moved by thecontrol system to catch each document in generally centered relationbetween the side edge surfaces of each note. This feature isparticularly valuable when the sheets which are removed from the stackare of different sizes.

It should be understood that while the U.S. has currency notes which arethe same size for all denominations, other countries use different sizeddocuments for various currency types. It is a fundamental advantage ofthe present invention that the documents inserted by a user need not bearranged so that the documents are all of the same size, nor do thedocuments need to be oriented in any particular direction in order to behandled by the preferred embodiment of the invention. The unstackingdevice of the described embodiment is particularly well adapted tounstacking the sheets having various sizes and which may not necessarilybe positioned so as to have a side edge in alignment with the wall 170,particularly for the sheets in the middle of the stack 146.

In the event that a double bill or document is sensed by doubles sensors80, the bills can be separated. A double bill is indicated in FIG. 16 bysheets 194 which for purposes of this example, are considered to be twooverlapped sheets. To separate these sheets pick belts 78 are stoppedand tray 74 is moved downward responsive to the control system so thatthe stack 146 is no longer biased against the lower flights of pickbelts 78.

Pick belts 78 are then run backwards such that the lower flight thereofis moved to the right as shown. This pulls sheets 194 back into thestack. The contact stripper wheels 176 and the non-contact stripperwheels also rotate to facilitate pulling the sheets back into the stack.This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by having the stripperwheels operated by a one way clutch. The stripper wheels may rotatefreely in the direction shown in FIG. 16, but may not rotate in theopposed direction. The movement of belts 78 pulls the sheets 194 backinto the stack. The strip backstop operates to prevent the sheets frommoving too far and falling out of the stack.

Once the sheets 194 are returned to the top of the stack the tray 74 isagain raised and a picking operation is attempted. Generally one or morerepeated attempts to strip the sheets will be successful such thatsheets are continuously removed from the stack 146 one by one. It shouldbe understood that while belts are used as the picking member and rollsare used as stripper members in the embodiment described, in otherembodiments other types of members may be used. For example the strippermembers may be belts and the picking members may be rolls, both membersmay be rolls or belts or combinations thereof or other moving surfaces.Likewise the further surfaces which impart a cross sectional waveconfiguration to the documents may be surfaces of rolls, belts or othermoving or stationary members. Likewise the takeaway device may be movingtake away rolls as shown or other document moving devices.

The transaction flow associated with the sensing of doubles and effortsto strip the top sheet are represented in FIG. 65. In a step 196 adetermination is made as to whether a double (or higher multipledocument) has been sensed during the unstack routine. If so, the stepassociated with lowering the stack 198 is executed. The pick belts aremoved in reverse in a step 200 to pull the doubles back into the stackand the stack is then raised at a step 202. As previously discussed, theunstack routine is then started again. Of course if doubles are notsensed when a sheet is picked, the sheet moves past the pre-centeringsensors 82 and the transverse position of the note in the transport issensed at a step 204.

After a document passes the pre-centering sensors, it then moves to thecombined deskew and aligning device 84. The deskew device is adapted tocatch a moving sheet and align its leading edge generally transverselyto the direction of travel of the sheet in the sheet path. Once theleading edge of the sheet has been angularly aligned, the alignmentdevice operates to move the sheet so that its center line is generallyin alignment with the transverse center line of the transport path.Doing this enables the document to be more rapidly identified forreasons which are later explained.

As shown in FIG. 20 the combined deskew and alignment device 84 includesa shuttle indicated 204. The shuttle is comprised of a pair of shuttlehalves 206 and 208. Each shuttle half includes a sheet brake for slowingan area of the sheet which the sheet brake engages. Each shuttle half isconnected to a drive shaft 210. The drive shaft is rotated by a drivemotor or similar device which operates to move pinch wheels 212 and 214on the shuttle halves in the manner hereafter explained. The shuttle 204is also movable transversely in supporting connection with drive shaft210. The shuttle is moved by a transverse moving device which operatesresponsive to a motor or similar drive device which is operativelyconnected to the control system of the machine. The shuttle alsoincludes a first sensor 216 adjacent to shuttle half 206 and a secondsensor 218 adjacent to shuttle half 208. The shuttle also includes amiddle sensor 220. In one embodiment the sensors are optical sensors,but other sensors may be used. The pinch rolls engage a segmented idlershaft 222. The idler shaft includes transversely adjacent segments whichare independently rotatable.

Referring to FIG. 18, shuttle half 206 is schematically shown therein.The shuttle half includes a solenoid 224. Solenoid 224 is connected to amovable brake rod 226 which is movable on pins 228. The solenoid andbrake rod are part of a brake mechanism. The pinch wheel 212 serves as amovable member and revolves around a center pin 230. The center pin 230is movably mounted in a slot 232 on the body of the shuttle half 206.

The drive shaft 210 is a splined type shaft as shown. The shaft 210extends through a drive wheel 234 which is mounted for rotation on thebody of the shuttle half 206. The drive shaft and drive wheel serves asa part of a first drive mechanism for moving the pinch wheel 212.

As shown in FIG. 18 when the solenoid 224 is not energized the pinchwheel 212 is biased into engagement with the drive wheel 234 by a springschematically indicated 236. The pinch wheel 212 rotates in response torotation of the drive shaft 210. The rotation of the pinch wheel 212also engages the independently rotatable segments of the segmented shaft222. Documents are enabled to pass through the nip between pinch wheels212 and the segmented shaft 222 in response to rotation of pinch roll212 by the drive wheel 234.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the solenoid 224 is energized the brake rod226 moves. The brake rod serves as part of an engaging device forengaging the pinch wheel so as to discharge from the drive wheel. As aresult the pinch wheel slows rapidly. The movement of the brake rodcauses the brake rod to engage pinch wheel 212. As the brake rod engagesthe pinch wheel, the pinch wheel is displaced from the drive wheel 234.The pinch wheel is held stopped by engagement with the brake rod and isprevented from moving until the solenoid is again de-energized and thebrake rod is retracted. As a result, the area of the document that ispositioned in the nip between pinch roll 212 and segmented shaft 222when the solenoid is energized, will be stopped in this position. Thedocuments is prevented from moving in the area of the nip until thesolenoid is de-energized.

The operation of the shuttle is schematically indicated in FIGS. 21-24.As shown in FIG. 21 a sheet or document 238 is shown moving in thedirection of the arrow in the sheet path. The shuttle is moved prior toarrival of the sheet in a transverse direction on the drive shaft 210 sothat pinch rolls 212 and 214 will both engage the sheet. This is done bythe control system 30 based on the signals from the pre-centeringsensors 82 which are upstream of the shuttle 204. The precenteringsensors are operative to sense the side edges at the transverse extremesof the sheet. The shuttle is moved transversely in the sheet path by thetransverse moving device which includes a fast acting motor or othersuitable device. The shuttle moves transversely to engage the sheet withboth pinch rolls and such that the sheet is generally transverselycentered between the pinch rolls.

In response to the sheet 238 moving into the area adjacent to the pinchrolls, the sensors 216, 218 and 220 sense the sheet. Because the samplesheet 238 is skewed, the sensor adjacent to pinch roll 214 which issensor 218, will sense the leading edge of the sheet first. When thisoccurs, the solenoid associated with the shuttle half 208 energizes,stopping movement of pinch roll 214, while roll 212 continues to rotatein response to rotation of shaft 210. As a result, sheet 238 begins torotate about the area of the pinch point 240 created between thestationary roll 214 and segmented shaft 222. Because sheet 238 movessuch that the front and back faces of the sheet are held in the area ofroll 214, the leading edge 242 of the sheet begins to angularly moveinto an aligned condition in a direction transverse to the direction ofsheet movement.

As shown in FIG. 23, sheet 238 rotates about pinch point 240 untilleading edge 242 is transversely aligned with the sheet path. When analigned condition is reached, the solenoid 224 is preferably energizedto stop movement of pinch roll 212. This produces a second pinch point244 between the note 238 and the idler shaft 222.

In the stopped condition of the note shown in FIG. 23, the leading edge242 of the sheet extends in the sheet path beyond centering sensors,generally indicated 246. The centering sensors are operative to sensethe side edges of the sheet indicated 248 and 250 in FIG. 23, in amanner hereinafter described. Upon sensing the side edges the controlsystem 30 determines the position of a center line which extends througha center portion of the sheet 238. This center line is indicatedschematically in FIG. 23 as 252. The shuttle then moves the sheettransversely in the manner indicated in FIG. 25. The sheet is moved inengaged relation between the pinch rolls 212 and 214 and the segmentedidler shaft 222. As shown in FIG. 24, sheet 238 is moved to the rightsuch that the sheet center line 252 is generally in alignment with acenter line of the sheet transport path 254.

Once the sheet has been deskewed in this manner and has been moved intoa centered relation in the transport path, the solenoids operating thepinch rolls 212 and 214 are released simultaneously to discharge thesheet 238 from the shuttle. This is done responsive to the controlsystem in the manner which assures that sheet 238 is properly spaced atleast a selected minimum amount from a preceding sheet. Optimally thesheet is not delayed any longer than is absolutely necessary to assurethat the sheet is properly oriented.

The schematic view of the components of the centering circuit which ispart of the control system of the machine and which is used inconnection with the centering sensors 246 and the pre-centering sensors82 is schematically indicated in FIG. 26. In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the sensors 246 include charged coupled devices (CCDs)which are used for sensing edges of the sheet. A sensor is included oneach transverse side of the sheet path. An emitter is provided on anopposed sheet side. The emitter provides a radiation source for sensingthe edges of the sheet. In other embodiments other types of sensors maybe used. Signals from the sensors 246 are transmitted to an amplifier256. Signals from the amplifier are forwarded to a digitizing comparator258. The digitizing comparator is provided with a threshold input froman interface 260.

A trip point output from the interface 260 is determined by a softwareroutine that adjusts the threshold input for the presence of a notebased on the radiation received by the sensors when no note is present.This enables adjusting the sensors for changes during the operation ofthe device, such as changes in the intensity of the emitters oraccumulation of dirt on the emitters or sensors.

The output from the digitizing comparator is transmitted to aprogrammable logic device 262. The programmable logic device determinesthe position of the edge of the note and transmits output signals alongwith timer signals to a processor 264. The processor generates signalsin accordance with its programming to move the transverse moving devicewhich moves the shuttle transversely to the desired position. In thecase of the pre-centering sensors, the shuttle is moved to a position toensure that it encounters the note preferably so that the note isgenerally centered between the pinch wheels. In the case of thecentering and deskew operation sensors the shuttle is moved to assurethat the note is moved to align it with the center of the transport. Thetiming signals also track when the leading and trailing edges of thenote encounter the sensors to enable the control system to maintainproper separation of the notes within the central transport. The signalsfrom the sensors 246, as well as those from sensors 216, 218 and 220 onthe shuttle, are used to assure that a note which has been released fromthe shuttle moves away in the proper coordinated fashion.

The logic flow associated with the deskew and alignment operations ofthe described embodiment is shown with reference to the steps shown inFIG. 65. As indicated by a step 266, the signals from the pre-centersensors 82 are used by the control system to move the shuttle to assurethat it engages the note. A deskewing step 268 operates in the manneralready described to align a leading edge of the note so that it extendstransversely to the direction of sheet movement in the transport. At astep 270 the center line of the sheet is moved into alignment with thecenter line of the sheet transport. The sheet having been deskewed andaligned, it is released at a step 272 in a timed manner and continues onits way in the sheet path.

It should be understood that while in the described embodiment of theinvention a pair of transversely disposed sheet brake mechanisms areused in the sheet path to engage and stop the sheet, in otherembodiments of the invention the sheet brake mechanisms may havedifferent relative speeds but not stop the sheet. Alternativeembodiments may actually speed the rate of movement of an area of thesheet to orient it. However it should be understood that for purposes ofthis disclosure slowing an area of a sheet is relative to another areaof the sheet, and would include increasing the speed of travel ofanother sheet area. It should be further understood that while in thedescribed embodiment the sheet brakes include a movable member with bothimparts motion and slows the sheets, in other embodiments sheet motionmay be imparted by mechanisms other than those which relatively slow onearea of the sheet compared to another area of the sheet so as to changeits alignment.

As shown in FIG. 13, after a document leaves the deskew and alignmentdevice the document moves through the area of the central transportwhere it is sensed by various sensors associated with the identificationdevice 88. In one preferred form of the invention the identificationdevice includes the device described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/749,260 filed Nov. 15, 1996 which is incorporated herein by referenceas if fully rewritten herein. This identification device is suitable foridentifying the type and denomination of a passing document. It also issuitable for distinguishing genuine documents from suspect documents. Anadvantage of the device used in the described embodiment is its abilityto identify a document despite the failure of the document to be inalignment with the sheet path. It should be understood that because ofvariable conditions, despite efforts made to orient each sheet, sheetsmay still be somewhat out of alignment at the time of analysis by theidentification device. Of course in other embodiments, other devices forclassifying and identifying sheets may be used.

The analysis of the note by the identification device 88 producessignals. These signals may be indicative of the note type anddenomination. Alternatively, the signals may be indicative that the notecannot be satisfactorily identified or are invalid. These signals aretransmitted to the control system 30 which operates the divert gates 90adjacent to the central transport. As shown in FIG. 27, in a preferredembodiment of the invention, documents which cannot be identified with ahigh degree of confidence or which are otherwise classified asunacceptable by the machine are routed by gates 90 to thedelivery/reject area 60 and are supported on second belts 58 of thedocument handling mechanism. Such rejected notes are represented in FIG.27 by a stack 274.

Identified documents suitable for deposit are routed by divert gate 90into the escrow area 66 where such notes are supported on belts 64. Suchidentified documents are represented in FIG. 27 by stack 276. It shouldbe understood that the routing of identified sheets to the escrowposition 266 is optional depending on the programming of the controlsystem 30 of the machine or customer inputs to the interface of themachine. Notes classified as acceptable and identifiable may be directlyrouted to appropriate storage areas for recovery.

The transaction flow associated with the analysis of the documents androuting to the reject/delivery and escrow areas of the document handlingmechanism is represented in FIG. 66. The analysis of the movingdocuments is represented by a step 278. If the note is properlyidentified as a type that is acceptable in a step 280, a check is nextmade at a step 282 to determine if the machine is in a deposit mode. Ifso properly identified notes are routed to storage areas in therecycling canisters. If the machine is not currently in a deposit mode,which is the case with the example described, properly identified notesare routed to the escrow position in a step 284.

If in step 280 a note is not identifiable or is identified asunacceptable the note is routed to the reject position in a step 286. Ofcourse it should be understood that the unstacking, pre-centering,deskewing, aligning and note identifying steps are all ongoingconcurrently as each document in the stream of documents passes throughthe central transport. The notes are continuously being directed to theescrow or reject positions until the stack of notes has been completelyunstacked.

In the operation of the invention of the preferred embodiment, sheetsthat are not acceptable to the machine, such as unidentifiable sheets,and sheets which appear suspect, are returned to the customer from theinput/output area 50. This is schematically represented in FIG. 28 whichshows the reject stack 274 being delivered to the customer through theopening 52. This is normally done by the machine after displaying to thecustomer, through the interface 14, information on a number of documentswhich were unidentifiable or unacceptable in the deposit stack that theysubmitted. The control system may also calculate a value of theacceptable documents and the customer would be advised through theinterface of the value of the documents that have been properlyidentified.

In alternative embodiments the customer may be given the option to inputa retry input to an input device of the customer interface, which causesthe machine to retry the rejected sheets to determine if they can beidentified. If this occurs, the machine may be programmed to run thereject stack 274 back through the central transport in the mannerpreviously done with the deposited stack. In the retry of theunacceptable documents only the documents in the reject stack may berechecked or alternatively all the input documents may be recheckeddepending on customer inputs to the interface and/or the programming ofthe machine. If only the initially rejected documents are rechecked andany are determined to be acceptable the control system will recalculatethe number and/or value of the acceptable documents. The customer may begiven various outputs and options for inputs depending on situationswhich arise. There are many options for the programming of the machineencompassed by the invention and the particular approach selecteddepends on the preferences of the operator of the machine.

Assuming that the reject stack 274 is to be returned to the customer,the reject stack is delivered to the customer in the manner indicated inFIG. 29. The inner gate 142 is extended while the carriage supportingbelts 64 are raised so that stack 276 engages the carriage supportingbelts 62 and 58. Belts 58 are raised such that the reject stack engagesbelts 56. As reject stack 274 is sandwiched between belts 56 and 58 thegate 54 is opened. The reject stack 274 is moved by belts 56 and 58 outthrough opening 52 in the housing of the machine. The delivery andreceipt sensors 148, 150 adjacent to opening 52 are operative to sensemovement of the stack.

The transaction flow associated with the delivery of the reject stack tothe customer is represented in FIG. 66. In a step 288, a determinationis made as to whether notes are present in a reject stack after all thesheets have been unstacked and passed through the central transport. Ifso, the reject stack is moved to the delivery position in step 290. Theinner gate is closed in a step 292, as shown in FIG. 29. The front gateis then opened at a step 294 and the belts are driven to deliver thereject stack to the customer at a step 296.

As shown in FIG. 67, the customer may then be prompted to take thereject stack at a step 298. This is done through the output devices oncustomer interface. The sensors 148 and 150 are then monitored at a step300 and a decision is made at a step 302 as to whether the reject sheetshave been taken. If the sheets have been taken the front gate 54 of themachine is closed at a step 304 and the inner gate is retracted at astep 306.

As previously discussed, in the described embodiment of the inventionthe customer is required to take the reject sheets. Therefore if at step302 the customer has not taken the sheets, the transport is operated topush the sheets out the opening 52 in a step 308. After the transporthas been run sufficiently to push the sheets out, the front gate isclosed.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the customer may have theoption of having the reject stack retried to determine if the documentscan be identified. This is done in response to a customer input throughan input device of the interface. In other alternative embodiments themachine may be programmed not to return unidentifiable or rejectedsheets to the customer. This may be done for purposes such as to preventpotentially counterfeit sheets from being placed back in circulation. Ifthe machine is programmed in this manner the reject stack 274 may bemoved in the manner shown in FIG. 30 back into the unstack area of themachine for a further pass through the central transport. In this secondpass the sheets may either be again returned to the reject area if theycannot be identified; placed in the escrow area if they may beidentified; or alternatively, passed into a storage location in therecycling canisters or dump area 132 for later analysis. Because thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is capable of trackingindividual sheets which are passed through the machine, it is possiblefor the machine to track where particular sheets originated based ontheir storage location and position within a storage location. This isdone by storing information in a memory associated with the controlsystem.

Returning to the operation of the described embodiment, the stack 276held in the escrow position is now moved upward in the input/output areaas indicated in FIG. 31. At this point the customer may have the optionof receiving the identifiable sheets that they have deposited back. Thismay be done for example if the customer does not agree with the count ofthe sheets by the machine. This may be accomplished by programming themachine so that the customer can obtain return of the documents inescrow by an appropriate input to an input device of the interface.

If the machine is programmed to deposit the identified documents held inescrow, the machine moves the document stack 276 in a manner shown inFIG. 31. Alternatively, the escrow stack will be moved in the mannershown in FIG. 31 if the machine requires a customer input to deposit theescrow documents and such an input is given through the customerinterface.

When the escrow stack 276 is to be deposited in storage locations in themachine, belt 64 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 32 and theescrow stack 276 is sandwiched between belts 62 and 64. The belts arethen driven to move the escrow stack 276 into the unstack area of themachine in the manner previously described.

The operation of the document handling device which includes drive rollsand movable belt carriages of the input/output area 50 are described ingreater detail in FIGS. 33 and 34. The carriage associated with belts 64is moved upward and downward by a driving or elevator mechanism. Thecarriage supporting belts 62 and 58 is free floating but is restrictedin the degree to which it may move downward. The carriage supporting thebelts 56 may rotatably conform to the position of an adjacent stack butis generally prevented from moving downward from the position shown.This configuration minimizes the complexity of the document handlingdevice.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriage supportingbelts 64, 62 and 68 are guided to move vertically by a first guide/driveshaft 310 and a second guide/drive shaft 312. The guide/drive shaftsserve as guides and the carriages move in operatively supportingconnection therewith. The guide/drive shafts not only extend generallyvertically, but also are splined shafts that are rotatable by suitabledrive and transmission mechanisms in the directions shown. For examplethe drive may include one or more electric motors, which are operativelyconnected to the guide/drive shafts by gears, belts or other motiontransmission devices. Movable journal guide blocks 314 and 316 aremovable vertically on shaft 310. Each journal guide block represented byguide block 314 in FIG. 33 includes bevel gears 318. The bevel gearsoperate to transmit rotational motion from the guide/drive shaft 310 toshafts 320 and 322. Shafts 320, 322 include rollers upon which belts 56and 58 are supported respectively.

Journal guide blocks 324 and 326 are movable on shaft 312. As indicatedin FIG. 33 by journal guide block 324, the journal guide block includesbevel gears 328 which operate to transmit rotational motion of thedrive/guide shaft 312 to shafts 330 and 332. Belts 62 and 64 aresupported on rolls which are driven by shafts 330 and 332 respectively.

As should be appreciated, this arrangement for driving the belts in theinput/output area reduces complexity compared to other arrangements.This arrangement also increases flexibility for selectively positioningstacks of documents. The belts of the embodiment shown are preferablyarranged such that the opposed facing belt flights which bound the areaswhere stacks are accepted are transversely offset. This facilitatesmovement of the stacks without skewing. It also enables the documenthandling device to move the opposed facing belt flights adjacent andbeyond the point where the opposed facing flights bounding an area arecoplanar. This enable the adjacent carriages of mechanism to retract toa relatively small size in the vertical direction. This feature may bedesirable when the carriages move adjacent without documents in an areabetween the opposed belts. It also facilitates moving the escrow areasufficiently upward to be in alignment with the unstack device or theopening in the housing. This enables a single housing opening ofrelatively small size to be used for receipt and delivery of documents.Of course, in other embodiments multiple openings may be used.

In the embodiment shown the stack supporting members include beltflights and all the belt flights are movable in a transverse directionto move the stacks of documents. In other embodiments other stacksupporting members may be used. For example, arrangements of rollers,belts or other movable supporting members may be used to move stacks ofdocuments. Arrangements of alternate or opposed moving and non-movingsupporting members may be used. Alternatively, non-transversely movingsupporting members may be used with devices and supporting members whichpush or pull the stack.

Returning to the sample transaction flow with the escrow stack 276 inthe position shown in FIG. 31, the transaction flow proceeds in themanner indicated in FIG. 67. As indicated in a step 334, the escrowstack is moved upwards so that it is generally aligned with the openingin the housing and in a position to either be delivered to the customeror to be moved back into the unstack position. The customer operatingthe machine is then prompted at a step 336 to indicate whether they wishto have the escrow stack returned to them or to deposit the amount inthe escrow stack into the machine. As indicated by a step 338, if thecustomer chooses to have the stack returned rather than deposited, themachine proceeds to return the stack to the customer through theopening.

The process of returning the stack is indicated through the transactionflow represented in FIG. 68. At this point in the transaction flow theescrow stack 276 is adjacent to opening 52, and may be readily deliveredto the customer. The inner gate is closed at a step 340 and the frontgate is opened at a step 342. Belts 62 and 64 are then driven to movethe escrow stack outward to present it to the customer at a step 344. Adetermination is made at a step 346 whether the customer has taken thestack. This is based on signals from the sensors 148 and 150. If theescrow stack is sensed as taken the machine returns to the main ATMtransaction sequence at a step 348.

If the customer does not take the stack, steps are executed to encouragethe customer to take the stack, or to retract it into the machine. Ifthe stack is not sensed as taken in step 346, the customer is promptedthrough the interface of the machine at a step 350 to take the stack. Ifthe stack is now sensed as taken, a step 352 returns the machine to themain sequence. If however the stack is still not taken, the transactionflow proceeds through steps 354 and 356 in which the stack is recoveredand stored, and an irregular transaction is noted. This may occur forexample by retracting the stack into the machine, closing the gate, andthen passing the stack through the central transport to one of thestorage areas.

Alternative forms of the invention may provide for crediting thecustomer's account for amounts which they indicated they wished to havereturned but did not take. If the machine is programmed to operate inthis manner the documents in the escrow stack will be stored accordingto their type and denomination in the various storage areas in therecycling canisters. In this case the control system operates to creditthe customer's account for a deposit. This may be done by the controlsystem updating account data stored in memory at the machine and/or byexchanging transaction messages with a remote computer system whichtracks debit or credit card transactions.

Alternatively, the retracted documents in the escrow stack may be storedseparately in one of the storage areas. The machine may be programmed toallow the customer to return at a later time and obtain the documents inthe escrow stack. This may be valuable for example if the customerforgets to take the stack or is distracted while performing theirtransaction. The memory of the machine or other connected transactionsystems may store a record of the incomplete transaction. The next timethe customer accesses the machine they may be notified of the fact thatthey had an incomplete transaction. The interface may be used to notifythe customer of the incomplete transaction and prompts them concerningcompletion, reversal or other options relating to the transaction. Theuser may then input instructions to complete or otherwise close thetransaction. This feature may limit the customer's options forcompleting the transaction to the particular machine where theincomplete transaction occurred. Alternatively, when the record of theincomplete transaction is stored in the memory of a transaction systemwhich is connectable to many machines, the customer may be allowed tocomplete the transaction at a different machine.

In most cases when a customer has deposited documents in the machine,they will choose to have the funds credited to their account. As aresult, in the transaction flow at step 338 they will indicate throughthe customer interface that they wish to make a deposit. The transactionflow moves through a step 358 in which the machine is set to depositmode. Thereafter the escrow stack 276 is moved to the unstack area at astep 360. This is done in the manner previously described for thedeposited stack.

As shown schematically in FIG. 35, the escrow stack will now beunstacked in the manner previously discussed. However, now instead ofthe unstacked bills being routed by the divert gate 90 to the escrowarea and delivery/reject area, the bills are selectively routed downwardto another area in the machine as shown, to the various storage areas inthe recycling canisters. During this operation each of the unstackedbills is again classified and identified by the bill identificationapparatus 88. The identification of the bill type is used to selectivelyroute each document to the storage area where documents of that type arestored. It should also be understood that the memory connected to thecontrol system of the machine is preferably programmed to record thetype of document held in the escrow stack and to compare the documenttype determination made in the initial pass to the type determinationmade in the second pass. In the event of an error or inconsistency, thedivert gate 90 may be used to route any irregular documents to thedelivery/reject area 60 instead of moving them down into a storagelocation in the machine, or moving them into another selected storagelocation.

As can be appreciated with the transaction flow beginning at step 358 inFIG. 67, the escrow stack undergoes the unstacking process previouslydescribed in connection with steps 184, 196 and 204. Each note is alsodeskewed and centered with regard to the transport path and thenreleased.

The note undergoes analysis in the manner discussed in connection withstep 278 and if the note is properly identified in step 280, thetransaction flow moves to a step 262 when the machine is in the depositmode. In step 262 each note is dispatched to an appropriate storagelocation. Notes are moved through this central transport in thedirection of Arrows “D” shown in FIG. 35. Each note is then routed to anappropriate storage location at a step 264. It should be appreciatedthat notes are moving concurrently toward different storage locationsunder the control of the control system. FIG. 35 shows an example of anote being deposited in storage area 102. It should be understoodhowever that notes may be moved into numerous storage areas during thedeposit process.

The notes in the stack 276 continue to be unstacked until the stack isdetermined to be depleted at a step 266. Assuming that no notes havebeen rejected during the deposit process, the transaction flow may thenreturn to the main ATM transaction sequence at a step 268. The controlsystem operates to modify the information in memory and/or tocommunicate messages with a remote debit or credit card processingsystem to credit the customer's account for the deposit. The customermay be provided with a receipt for their deposit and may continue withother transactions.

In the operation of the central transport 70 there are places in whichmoving notes must undergo generally 180 degree turns. One example ofthis is indicated by transport section 370 which is shown in FIG. 35which includes a turnover device. In transport section 370, documentsthat have been aligned in the transport path have their directionreversed so that they can be passed adjacent to the identificationdevice 88. Transport section 370 requires that the bills be transportedaccurately and maintain their spaced aligned relation. The documents arealso preferably not crumpled or otherwise distorted, as this mayadversely impact their ability to be identified in the followingsection. More details regarding transport section 370 are shown in FIGS.36-38.

The turnover device in transport section 370 includes a plurality ofbelts 372. These belts in the preferred embodiment are V-type belts thatengage driving and idling rolls 374, 376 and 378. In the preferred formof the invention the “V” cross section of belts 372 is pointed radiallyinward as the belt passes rolls 374, 376 and 378.

As belts 372 move between rolls 374 and 376 they are supported oncarriage rolls 380. The carriage rolls 380 support the belt in a mannersuch that the “V” section is pointed away from the carriage rolls. Aflat top surface of each belt is positioned adjacent to an annulardimple 382 on the outer circumference of each carriage roll. Carriagerolls 380 are also spaced from one another. Guides 384 which generallyhave a somewhat lesser diameter than the carriage rolls are positionedin between. An example of a guide 384 is shown in greater detail in FIG.37.

When a note 386 passes through transport section 370 it is held betweenthe flat surfaces of belt 372 and dimples 382 of the carriage rolls asshown in FIG. 38. The notes move around the carriage rolls without beingskewed or distorted. When the notes are passed to the area adjacent toroll 376 projections 388 on the guides urge the note away fromengagement with the carriage rolls and in the desired direction.

This configuration is used in a preferred embodiment of the invention asit has been found that notes may generally be transported through thetransport section 370 without adversely impacting their aligned andseparated relation. The ability to turn the note path 180 degrees alsogreatly reduces the overall size of the automated banking machine.

As shown in FIG. 35 notes which are passed through the central transport70, and which are moved to storage areas within the machine, passdownward through the central transport through remote transport segments108, 110, 112 and 114. These remote transport segments operate as partof a remote transport. The remote transport segments are verticallyaligned in the preferred embodiment so as to enable documents to beselectively transported between the transport segments. The transportsegments also enable documents to be selectively directed either throughthe transport segments or into or out of the adjacent canistertransports, one of which is positioned adjacent to each transportsegment. The selective directing of documents is achieved through use ofa media gate associated with each transport segment which is operatedunder the control of the control system 30.

An example of a transport segment used in a preferred embodiment of theinvention is indicated by transport segment 110 shown in FIG. 39.Transport segment 110 includes a plurality of spaced belt supportingrolls 390, 392. The rolls are driven by a drive in operative connectionwith the control system. Each of the rolls support a belt 394 thereon(see FIG. 44). An inner flight 396 of each belt 394 extends generally ina first plane and is positioned adjacent to a first sheet supportingsurface 398 and a second sheet supporting surface 400. The sheetsupporting surfaces each include a plurality of spaced raisedprojections or dimples thereon. These raised projections serve to breaksurface tension and minimize the risk of documents sticking thereon.

The principles of operation of transport segment 110 as well as thecanister transport used in the preferred embodiment, can be appreciatedwith reference to FIGS. 45 and 46. The transports operate by holdingdocuments in engaged relation between an outer surface of a belt flightand elongated projections which extend toward the belt flight from anopposed adjacent supporting surface. In the example shown in FIG. 45,belt flights 402 extend adjacent to an opposed supporting surface 404.Projections 406 extend transversely between the belt flights from thesupporting surface. A document 408 which is engaged between the beltflights and the supporting surface is biased and deformed by theprojections 406 to remain engaged with the belt flights. As a result,documents move with the belt flights. This enables movement of the beltflights to accurately move the document 408 in engaged relationtherewith.

Returning to FIG. 39, projections 410 extend from first sheet supportingsurface 398. Projections 410 are generally segmented projections andinclude tapered leading and trailing edges to minimize the risk ofdocuments snagging thereon. Idler rolls 412 and 416 are also journaledon and in supporting connection with the member which includes sheetsupporting surface 398. Idler rolls 412 and 416 serve as movable membersand are generally positioned in aligned relation with inner flights 396and perform a function which is later explained.

Each remote transport segment has a canister transport adjacent theretowhich meets the transport segment at an intersection. In the case oftransport segment 110, canister transport 126 extends adjacent theretoas shown in FIG. 1. Canister transport 126 include pairs of spaced beltsupporting rolls 418, only one of which is shown in FIG. 39. rolls 418are driven by a drive in operative connection with the control system.Rolls 418 support belts 420 which include lower flights 422. Lowerflights 422 extend generally in a plane and further extend adjacent to asupporting surface 424 which includes dimpled projections thereon of thetype previously discussed. Projections 426 extend from supportingsurface 424 between the belts and are generally parallel thereto. Thisstructure enables documents to be transported in engaged relationbetween the projections 426 and the belt flights 422 in the mannerpreviously described. A transition surface 423 provides a smoothtransition between supporting surface 398 and supporting surface 424through the intersection which is generally indicated 421.

As shown in FIG. 44 the rolls 418 of the canister transports and rolls390 of the remote transport segments are arranged in transverselyintermediate relation, similar to the manner in which the projections onthe supporting surface are positioned transversely intermediate of thebelt flights. This assures that documents can be passed between thetransport segments in controlled relation in the manner hereinafterdescribed. Rolls 418 extend through the plane of the first transportsegment so as to impart a wave configuration to documents moved betweenrolls 390 and rolls 418.

Each of the remote transport segments includes a media gate which isselectively operable to direct documents in desired directions. A mediagate is positioned at an intersection of each canister transport withthe remote transport. In the case of transport segment 110 the mediagate associated therewith is gate 118. Gate 118 includes a plurality ofmovable arms 428. The arms are engaged to move together by a drive inoperative connection with the control system and are selectively movableabout an axis of rolls 390. Each arm 428 has a roll 430 movably mountedthereon. Each roll 430 which serves as a diverter member, is positionedin alignment with a corresponding inner belt flight 396.

The operation of the remote transport segment and media gate will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 39-43. As shown in FIG. 39, when thediverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is disposed from the belt flights 396,a document 432 is enabled to pass along a first direction directlythrough the remote transport segment. Although the document 432 is shownas moving upward in FIG. 39, it should be understood that documents maybe moved downward as well responsive to the drive and the control systemmoving rolls 390 and 392 in a selected rotational direction. Likewisedocuments may be moved downward and then upward in the remote transportsegment.

FIG. 40 shows a document 434 moving in a downward direction while thediverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is extended. In this condition thediverter roll extends in both the plane of the sheet path of the remotetransport segment and the plane of sheet movement of the canistertransport. The document 434 is directed toward the nip created by beltflights 422 and projections 426 of the canister transport 126. As aresult, moving the belt flights 420 in the direction shown with theassociated drive as the media gate is actuated transfers the documentinto a canister transport path along which it is carried by the canistertransport. As can be appreciated from FIG. 40, when the gate 118 isactuated and moved to the position to direct documents to and from thecanister transport, belt flight 396 is deformed. Idler roll 416 supportsthe belt flight in the deformed position to prevent excessive wear as aresult of friction.

FIG. 41 shows a document 436 being moved from the canister transport tothe remote transport segment 110. In the position shown the media gate118 operates to direct document 436 towards the remote transport segment108 positioned above remote transport section 110 (see FIG. 35) andtowards the central transport.

FIG. 42 shows the gate 118 in a condition that directs a document 438from the canister transport 126 downward into the remote transportsegment 110. As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, thepreferred embodiment of the invention enables moving documents from onestorage area to another. This function is enabled by the control systemof the machine moving documents from storage areas in canisters wherethey have been stored to storage areas in canisters either above orbelow the storage canister in the machine.

FIG. 43 shows a document 440 moving upward in the remote transportsegment 110 and being directed by the gate 118 into the canistertransport 126. The ability to move the documents in the manner shown inFIGS. 39-43 in response to the control system greatly facilitates theability of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to storeand recover documents. As will be appreciated from the foregoingFigures, the gate mechanisms may also be used to selectively orientdocuments. This may be desirable, particularly when it is desired toprovide customers with documents uniformly oriented in a stack. This maybe accomplished by re-orienting the documents prior to storage based onthe orientation of each document as determined by the identificationdevice 88. However as discussed previously, the embodiment of thepresent invention shown does not require documents to be oriented in anyparticular way for satisfactory operation.

The storage of documents in a storage location is now described withreference to FIGS. 47-53. For purposes of this illustration, storage ofa document in storage area 102, as shown in FIG. 35, will be discussed.However it should be understood that the following description isgenerally applicable to the storage of documents in any of the storageareas available in the machine of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 47, storage area 102 is shown from the top. Beltflights 422 of the canister transport 26 extend in a transport pathabove a bin door 442. Bin door 442 is movably mounted in supportingconnection with the canister above storage area 102. Bin door 442includes a supporting surface 444 which supports notes or otherdocuments moving thereon to and from adjacent storage areas. Supportingsurface 444 includes dimpled projections which serve to reduce surfacetension and sticking of documents that move thereon.

Bin door 442 includes outward extending projections 446 which aretransversely adjacent and generally parallel to the belt flights. Theprojections engage passing documents and maintain the documents inengagement with belts 422. A pair of apertures or openings 448 are ingenerally aligned relation with projections 446. Openings 448 provideaccess for thumper wheels which are later discussed and which serve assheet engaging members. As can be seen in FIG. 47 projections 446 aretapered adjacent to openings 448 to minimize the risk of documentssticking thereon. Bin door 442 also includes a plurality of idlerrollers 450. Rollers 450 are positioned in aligned relation with belts422. Rollers 450 engage the belts and facilitate movement of the beltswhen the bin door 442 is opened to accept a document in a manner that islater described.

Bin door 442 also includes a central aperture or opening 452. Opening452 is sized to accept a pair of closely spaced thumper wheels 454therein. The central thumper wheels 454 are similar in construction tooutboard thumper wheels 456 which extend through openings 448. Centralopening 452 is also sized to accept feed wheels 458 and 460 which serveas sheet engaging members and which are positioned adjacent to the frontof the bin door 442 covering storage area 102. The feed wheels 458 and460 are connected to thumper wheels 454 by a feed belt 462 which servesas a feed member.

Is should be understood that thumper wheels 454 and 456, as well as feedwheels 458 and 460, are supported on a surface positioned adjacent toand vertically above bin door 442. The feed wheels and thumper wheelsare preferably supported on the housing of the machine, whereas storagearea 102 and bin door 442 are supported on recycling canister 94. Therecycling canister may be removed from the machine when the feed wheelsand the thumper wheels are positioned so they do not extend throughopening 452.

Bin door 442 also includes a sensor 464 which serves as a sheetthickness detector. Sensor 464 in one form of the invention is anoptical receiver type sensor that receives signals from an opto-emitterdevice which is positioned in the machine adjacent to and above sensor454 when the canister 94 is in its operative position. Sensor 464 is inconnection with the control circuitry of the machine. In otherembodiments other types of detectors such as contact or non-contactdetectors may be used.

The steps involved in storing a note in storage area 102 is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 48-53. Storage area 102 holds a stack466 including a plurality of sheets, notes or other documents. Stack 466is preferably a plurality of horizontally oriented documents which aresupported on a push plate 468. Push plate 468 is biased upwards towardthe bin door by a spring schematically indicated 467, or other biasingmechanism. The stack is held at its upper end by a plurality oftransversely spaced front fingers 470 and back fingers 472 which engagethe top sheet bounding the stack adjacent to the bin door. The frontfingers and back fingers are movable by a mechanism in the mannerhereinafter discussed. The mechanism includes a drive including linearor rotational motor type device and suitable transmission mechanism inoperative connection with the control system.

Bin door 442 includes an inner surface 474 which includes a plurality ofdownward extending projections with recesses therebetween. In theposition of fingers 470 and 472, inward facing projections 476, 478adjacent the upper ends of the fingers 470 and 472 respectively, extendabove the stack and are movable in the recesses of the inner surface ofthe bin door. These inward extending projections 476 and 478 of fingers470 and 472 hold the top of the stack in captured relation in thepositions shown in FIG. 48.

In FIG. 48 a document 480 is shown as it moves toward the storage area402. In this position prior to arrival of the document, the feed wheelsand thumper wheels are positioned above the supporting surface 444 ofthe bin door. Take away wheels 482 which are movably mounted on thecanister 94 which includes storage area 102, are moved by a drive orother moving mechanism in operative connection with the control systemto a position disposed away from the feed wheels 458 and 460.

Upon arrival of the document 480 at the storage area 102 the bin door442 which is rotationally mounted to the canister at the rear thereofrises upward in a front area adjacent to a front surface thereof. Thetake away rolls 482 move upward by the mechanism while the feed wheels458 and 460 which are rotated by a drive engage and move the documentinto the storage area 102. Fingers 470 and 472 also hold and move theupper surface of the stack downward relative to the door against thebiasing force which is applied upward by the push plate 468. Thisenables document 480 to move into the storage area above the inwardprojections of the fingers.

FIG. 50 shows the configuration of the feed wheels and take away wheelsas document 480 is moved into the storage area. In this condition therotating feed wheels 458 and 460 engage document 480 as do the take awaywheels 482, so that the document may be driven into the storage area. Asshown in FIG. 50 a stripper roll 484, the operation of which is laterdiscussed in detail, remains disposed away from the feed belt 462 as thedocument 480 enters the storage area.

As shown in FIG. 51 document 480 enters the storage area 102 above thestack 466. Fingers 470 and 472 are then moved outwardly as shown in FIG.51. This is done by a mechanism which operatively interconnects thefingers and moves them together in coordinated relation responsive tosignals from the control system.

As shown in FIG. 52, eventually fingers 470 and 472 are moved outwardlya sufficient distance to release the stack 466 so it moves upwardly inresponse to the biasing force on the push plate 468. As a result,document 480 is integrated into the stack as the bin door 442 is moveddownward to its original position by its associated moving mechanism.When the bin door is moved downwardly the inward extending projectionson the fingers 472 and 470 are in aligned relation with the recesses onthe inside surface of the bin door, and the fingers extend therein.

From the positions shown in FIG. 52, fingers 470 and 472 are movedinwardly by the finger moving mechanism to again capture the top surfaceof the stack which now includes document 480. The take away wheels 482are again retracted downward by operation of the mechanism associatedtherewith and storage area 102 is again ready to receive furtherdocuments for storage therein.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, mechanisms such asthose shown and discussed are used to move the bin door fingers, wheelsand other devices responsive to the control system. These mechanisms mayinclude rotational or linear motors and other mechanisms, transmissionsand linkages suitable for use in moving the components in the mannerdescribed. Such components are referred to in the drawings as drives 68to promote clarity and facilitate understanding of the operation of theinvention. Any device or mechanism suitable for achieving motion of thetype shown or described for the components may be used in embodiments ofthe invention.

It should be understood that when one or more documents are routed intoa storage location in the machine, the storage location where theparticular document(s) are to be stored undergoes the described seriesof steps. While the series of operations for the storage location hasbeen described as receiving documents and then integrating them into thestack in the storage location one document at a time, it should beunderstood that the mechanisms in the storage areas may optimally beconfigured so that a plurality of documents may be collected in thestorage area above the fingers and then the fingers and bin door movedto integrate the plurality of documents into the stack. Such aconfiguration may be used to optimize the speed of operation of theautomated banking machine. It should be further understood that whilethe mechanism for storing documents in the storage areas is exemplary,other mechanisms which store such documents may be used in alternativeembodiments of the invention. Such mechanisms may include specificallydevices which include only one or other numbers and configurations ofmovable members for holding and releasing the stack of documents in thestorage location.

The operation of machine 10 is now described with regard to atransaction in which documents are retrieved from storage areas in themachine and dispensed to a customer or other operator of the bankingmachine. This is represented schematically in FIG. 54. In a dispensingoperation, documents will generally be removed from a plurality ofstorage locations and moved concurrently under the control of controlsystem 30 to the escrow area 66. As shown schematically in FIG. 54, eachof the documents removed from a storage area is moved from therespective canister transport to the adjacent remote transport segmentand directed upward by the gate to the central transport. In the centraltransport the documents each pass the identification device 88. The typeand character of the document is again determined prior to beingdispensed to the customer. The flow of documents during this dispensing(document recovery) operation is represented by Arrows “E” in FIG. 54.Of course as can be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, if at anytime in the processing of documents which are to be provided to acustomer, an improper or unidentifiable document is found, it may berouted to the delivery/reject area 60 for reprocessing or return intothe machine.

The recovery of documents from a storage area is represented by thesequence of operations shown in FIGS. 55-61 in connection with storagearea 102. For purposes of clarity and simplicity document 480, which waspreviously deposited at the top of the stack 466, will be dispensed inthis exemplary sequence of events.

As shown in FIG. 55 in the initial position of storage area 102, bindoor 442 is disposed downward by its associated mechanism. The inwardprojections of the fingers 470 and 472 extend in the recesses in theinner surface 474 of the bin door. The fingers along with the innersurface of the bin door retain the top of the stack which is bounded bydocument 480. The stack 466 is biased upwardly by spring action of pushplate 468.

In the next step in dispensing the document, the fingers 470 and 472 aremoved outward relative to the stack by their mechanism responsive tosignals from the control system. This enables document 480 at the uppersurface of the stack 466 to be engaged with the projections which boundinner surface 474 of the bin door 422.

As next shown in FIG. 57 the front of the bin door 422 is moved upwardby its mechanism. The take away wheels 482 are moved upward to engagethe feed wheels 458 and 460 (see FIG. 59). Likewise stripper roll 484 ismoved by its associated moving mechanism in upward direction as shown inthe drawing to engage feed belt 462.

It should be noted with regard to FIG. 59 that feed wheel 460 includesan inner portion which has a high friction segment 486 thereon. Highfriction segment 486 comprises a band of resilient material that extendsradially outward further than other portions of the outer circumferenceof the feed wheel and part way circumferentially about the inner portionof the wheel. Feed wheel 458 has a similar high friction segment 488thereon. The high friction segments extend through the openings in thebin door provide gripping engagement with a top document in the stackwhen the feed wheels are positioned to place the high friction segmentsin engagement with the top document.

It should further be understood that stripper roll 484 includes a oneway clutch type mechanism. This one way clutch mechanism enables thestripper roll to rotate in a manner which allows a document to readilymove into the storage area 102. The clutch associated with stripper roll484 is oriented to resist movement of documents out of the storage area.In this manner the stripper roll 484 serves as a stripper device whichgenerally moves only the single document at the very top of the stackand strips or prevents other documents from moving out of the storagearea. This is achieved because the high friction segments providegreater force moving the single document in a first direction out of thestorage area than the resistance applied to the document by the stripperroll. However other documents tending to move with the first documentare separated.

As is also shown in FIGS. 57 and 59, thumper wheels 454 and 456 includean outward extending portion. These outward extending portions arepreferably generally angularly aligned and moved by a driving mechanismso that all of the extending portions extend through the respectiveopenings in the bin door simultaneously. As is shown in FIG. 59 theseextending portions are generally in angular alignment with the arcuatehigh friction segments on the feed wheels and likewise serve as engagingmembers for engaging and moving the top document in the stack.

As shown in FIG. 58 to pick a document the feed wheels and thumperwheels are rotated so that the radially outward extending portions ofthe thumper wheels and the radially outward extending high frictionsegments of the feed wheels engage document 480 at the top of stack 466.The action of the thumper wheels, feed wheels, take away wheels andstripper roll, operate to separate document 480 from the stack and moveit in a first direction from the storage area as shown in FIG. 58. Thepreferred embodiment of the apparatus is generally sized so that asingle rotation of the feed wheels and thumper wheels is sufficient tomove a document from the storage area. Once the document is moved fromthe storage area it engages the belts and projections on the adjacentbin door or transport portion and moves in engagement therewith. The bindoor 442 is again closed and the take away wheels and stripper rollmoved by their associated mechanisms so as to be retracted from thecanister. The fingers 470 and 472 are moved upward and inward to againengage the top of the stack.

As document 480 is moved from storage area 102 the transmissivity oflight through the document is sensed. The transmission of light throughthe document is sensed by a sensor 490. Sensor 490 is preferably areceiver similar to sensor 464 and is positioned on the bin door orother structure covering the storage area or otherwise in the firstdirection from storage area 102. Emitter 492 mounted on the machineemits sufficient light so that it can be determined if a double note hasbeen removed from the stack.

Emitter 492 and sensor 490 are connected to the control system which isprogrammed to recognize when a double document has been picked from thestorage area. This is preferably done by determining if the thickness ofa sheet picked is above a predetermined thickness. The machine mayoperate in a number of ways depending on the programming of the controlsystem to deal with this occurrence. If the document has been removedentirely from the stack, the document may be reversed in direction anddeposited back into the stack. Then an attempt made to again remove it.Alternatively, in an attempted second picking operation the feed wheelsmay be oscillated back and forth as the note is being picked to minimizethe possibility that two notes will be removed together. This may bedone automatically by the control system in some conditions wheredocuments are known to have a particularly high affinity or surfacetension which makes them difficult to separate.

Finally, in the event that repeated attempts to pick a single note fromthe storage area are unsuccessful, the machine may operate to route thepicked document(s) to another storage area or to the dump area 132. Themachine may then proceed to pick a next note from the stack. Theprogramming of the machine 10 is preferably established to minimize thedelay associated when a picking problem is encountered.

After the document 480 has been successfully removed from the storagearea 102 it is transported to the remote transport segment 110 and isrouted by the gate 1 18 toward the central transport. Document 480 alongwith other documents passes the identification device 88 which confirmsthe identity of each document. The documents are deposited in the escrowarea 66 where an escrow stack 494 is accumulated. Thereafter asschematically represented in FIG. 62, escrow stack 494 is moved upwardlyin the input/output area 50 of the machine. Gate 54 is opened and thestack is delivered to the customer through opening 52.

The transaction flow executed by the control system for carrying out theoperations of the machine in a withdrawal transaction is represented inFIGS. 69 and 70. As is the case with the deposit transaction, themachine first goes through a customer identification sequencerepresented by a step 134 in which the customer operating the machine isidentified to resolve their account data. This customer ID sequence isnot usually executed again when the customer has operated the machine toconduct an immediately prior transaction as the customer account datahas already been resolved and is available in the memory of the machine.After the customer has identified themselves, the machine goes throughthe main ATM transaction sequence 136, as previously described.

The customer next indicates at a step 496 through the customer interfacethat they wish to conduct a withdrawal transaction. The amount of thewithdrawal is then received by the machine based on customer inputs at astep 498. At a step 500 the machine operates to determine if the amountof the withdrawal that the customer has requested is authorized by theprogramming of the machine and/or the programming of a computer of aremote debit or credit transaction processing system which is incommunication with the machine via phone link, radio link, lease line orother suitable communication means. If the withdrawal is not authorized,the machine returns to the main sequence and provides instructions tothe customer.

If the amount of the withdrawal is authorized, the control system of themachine looks up the storage locations of the various bill denominationsat a step 502, and calculates a bill mix to be provided to the customerat a step 504. It should be noted that in some embodiments of theinvention, which are intended to be used primarily by commercialcustomers, the customer may be allowed to select the mix ofdenominations of bills that the customer will receive. This is done bythe control system using programmed prompts displayed on the customerinterface. The customer provides inputs through the customer interfacewhich indicate the quantity of each bill type they desire. If howeverthe machine does not provide that option or the customer does notprovide a specific denomination selection, the machine will operate todetermine the number of various types of bills that it has available andwill provide bills to the customer in denominations which will minimizethe probability that the machine will run out of bills of any particulartype.

The machine next proceeds to a step 506 in which the control systemoperates to pick notes from the various storage areas. As indicated byphantom step 508, the picking operations are executed concurrently inthe preferred embodiment of the invention. Multiple bills may be pickedfrom the various storage locations and moved as a stream of separatednotes through the remote transport segments and into the centraltransport of the machine.

For each picking operation, after the note is picked a step 510 isexecuted to sense for double notes having been picked from a storagelocation. If a double is sensed at a step 512 the note is retracted at astep 514 and an effort is again made to pick a single note. If howeverin step 512 a single bill is sensed the bill is released in a step 516.In step 516 the note is released in coordinated relation with the othernotes by the control system to assure that each note reaches the centraltransport of the machine in spaced relation with the other notes.However the spacing is such that the notes move concurrently and aredelivered into the escrow location at high speed.

An analysis of each passing note is done by the identification device 88which is indicated at a step 518. If the note is recognized as proper ata step 520, the note is routed to the escrow area 66 at a step 522. Ifthe note is not recognized in step 520 or is improper, it is routed todelivery/reject area 60 in a step 524, or to another area designated inthe programming of the machine. The failure to identify a note which hascome from a storage location is an unusual event. This is because eachstored note has usually been twice previously identified. Problems mayarise when the note was loaded into the canister outside the machine. Ifa note is rejected, the transaction flow of the described embodimentproceeds to an error recovery step 526. This error recovery program mayinclude routing the note back through the central transport to adesignated storage location for later analysis.

Notes are delivered into the escrow area until all the notes whichrespond to the withdrawal request by the customer have been delivered.The completion of the delivery is checked at a step 528. A check is thenmade at a step 530 to determine if all the notes that have beendelivered have been properly identified. If not and there are notes inthe reject area, the error recovery step 526 is executed.

If however the notes have all been properly identified the escrow stackcorresponding to stack 494 in FIG. 62 is moved to the delivery positionin a step 532 which aligns the escrow area with the opening in thehousing. The inner gate is then closed at a step 534. The front gate isopened at a step 536 and the transport belts move to deliver the notesto the customer at a step 538.

At a step 540 a determination is made based on reading from sensors 148and 150 as to whether the stack of notes has been taken by the customer.If so, the front gate is closed at a step 542. The control system thenoperates to have the withdrawal debited to the customer's account in thememory of the machine and/or in a memory of a remote transactionprocessing system. The transaction flow then returns to the main ATMsequence at a step 544.

If however the notes are not taken by the customer routines may beexecuted to prompt the customer through the customer interface to removethe notes. However if the customer does not take the notes, then step546 is executed to retract the notes into the machine. The front gate isclosed at a step 548 and the machine then proceeds to the error recoveryroutine. This may include for example, storing the notes in a particularstorage location. Alternatively it may involve reversing the withdrawaltransaction requested by the customer and placing the notes again backin the various storage areas by running them through the centraltransport. As previously discussed, a record of the incompletetransaction by the customer may be stored in the machine or elsewhere inan operatively connected computer system so the customer may completethe transaction when they later access this machine or another machineconnected to the system.

An advantage of one preferred embodiment of the present invention is itsability to operate at high speeds. This is achieved through thearchitecture of the control system 30 which is schematically representedin FIG. 63. The preferred embodiment of the system uses a control systemwhich includes a terminal processor 548. The terminal processor containsthe general programming of the machine as well as the programs necessaryfor operation of the communication functions with other systems andother functions that the machine carries out. As indicated in FIG. 63,terminal processor 548 is in operative connection with a data storewhich includes programmed instructions and data. Terminal processor 548is in communication through appropriate interfaces with various hardwaredevices 550.

Terminal processor 548 is also in operative communication with a moduleprocessor 552. Module processor 552 orchestrates the operations carriedout by the plurality of module controllers 554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and564. As indicated, module processor 552 is also in operative connectionwith its own respective data store which holds its programmedinstructions and data. Likewise each of the module controllerspreferably include data storage for holding various programmedinstructions and data. The module processor 552 is operatively connectedto each of the module controllers through a data bus 566. The modulecontrollers each communicate through the data bus only with the moduleprocessor 552, and the module processor communicates directly with eachmodule controller. Each module controller has associated therewithhardware devices indicated 567. Each module controller has associatedtherewith its own respective types of hardware devices which it isresponsible for operating and controlling.

In operation of the system each module controller operates programs toexecute particular tasks associated with each hardware device that isconnected to it. This may be for example, a particular functionassociated with moving a mechanism or a document. These tasks arecoordinated with other tasks executed through the module controllerconcerning related hardware. The movement of documents concurrentlyhowever is coordinated by the module processor 552 operating to send thecontrol signals to the various module controllers, so that documenthandling functions are carried out in a timed and coordinated relation.The terminal processor 548 controls the operation of the moduleprocessor to carry out the particular transactions which are indicatedby the terminal programming. As a result of this configuration,documents are enabled to be handled concurrently, yet independentlythroughout the machine which greatly speeds the operation of storing andretrieving documents.

Thus the preferred embodiment of the present invention achieves theabove stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in the useof prior devices, systems and methods, and attains the desirable resultsdescribed herein.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the foregoingdescriptions and illustrations are by way of examples and the inventionis not limited to the details shown or described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performinga function shall be construed as encompassing any means capable ofperforming the recited function and shall not be limited to the meansshown and described in the foregoing description as performing therecited function, or mere equivalents thereof.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and thenew and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices,elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, operations,methods and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising the steps of: (a) operating a movingdevice to cause a stack of documents in an automated banking machine tomove in a first direction to generate a splayed stack of documents,wherein the moving device is adapted to urge the stack to move in afirst direction, wherein the moving device is adapted to engage thestack of documents in supporting connection therewith; (b) engaging amovable picking member with a front face of a first document boundingthe splayed stack; (c) moving the picking member, wherein the firstdocument moves from the stack in generally the first direction inengagement with the picking member; (d) moving the moving device, withthe splayed stack supported thereon, in a second direction toward thepicking member.
 2. The method according to claim 1 and furthercomprising the steps of: (e) sensing with a sensing device if the firstdocument is a multiple document; (f) responsive to sensing that thefirst document is a multiple document in step (e), disposing the stackaway from the picking member; and (g) returning the first document intothe stack by moving the first document in a direction opposed of thefirst direction.
 3. The method according to claim 2 and after step (g)further comprising the steps of repeating the steps (b) through (d). 4.The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises engaging thestack against an angled wall surface, wherein in transverse crosssection the angled wall surface comprises a plurality of steps, eachstep including a first step surface extending in generally the firstdirection and a second step surface extending in a normal directiongenerally perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein eachdocument in the stack includes a side edge surface extending betweenfront and back faces of the document, and wherein step (a) furthercomprises engaging the side edge surfaces of the documents in the stackwith the second step surfaces.
 5. The method according to claim 13wherein the angled wall surface includes an elongated slot extendingtherein, and wherein the stack supporting member includes a projection,and wherein the projection extends in the slot, and further comprisingmoving the projection relative to the slot while moving the stacksupporting member towards the picking member.
 6. The method according toclaim 1 wherein step (d) comprises supporting the documents on a tray;and biasing the tray toward the picking member to cause the firstdocument to engage the picking member.
 7. The method according to claim1 and further comprising imparting a cross sectional wave configurationto the first document as the document is moved from the stack, whereinthe wave configuration is imparted in a cross section taken generallyperpendicular to the first direction.
 8. The method according to claim 1wherein step (b) includes engaging the front face with a plurality ofpicking members, wherein the picking members are disposed from oneanother in a direction generally transverse to the first direction. 9.The method according to claim 8 wherein step (b) further comprisesengaging a back face of the first document with at least one firststripper member disposed transversely intermediate of a pair ofimmediately adjacent picking members.
 10. The method according to claim9 wherein step (b) further comprises engaging the back face with atleast one second stripper member, wherein the second stripper member isgenerally aligned in opposed relation with a picking member.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10 wherein step (b) further comprises engagingthe back face with a plurality of first stripper members and a pluralityof second stripper members.
 12. The method according to claim 11 andfurther comprising the step of imparting a wave configuration intransverse cross section to the first document by engaging the documentwith the picking members and the first stripper members.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the stack is supported on a movable stacksupporting member, and wherein step (a) comprises moving the stackagainst an angled wall surface in engaged intermediate relation betweenthe stack supporting member and the picking member.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13 wherein step (a) comprises moving both the pickingmember and the stack supporting member in generally the first direction.15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first document includesa first side edge surface, wherein the first side edge surface boundsthe first document and extends generally along the first direction, andfurther comprising the steps of: (e) sensing a position of the firstside edge surface with a sensing device; and (f) moving a catchingdevice to engage the first document in response to the position sensedin step (e).
 16. The method according to claim 15 and further comprisingengaging the first document with the catching device and moving thefirst document with the catching device in a direction generallytransverse to the first direction.
 17. The method according to claim 15and further comprising the steps of: engaging the first document withthe catching device and moving the first document with the catchingdevice to angularly rotate the first side edge surface.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 15 and after step (d) and prior to step (e) furthercomprising the step of moving the first document out of the stack with atake away device.
 19. A method comprising the steps of: (a) splaying astack of documents in an automated banking machine; (b) moving a firstdocument bounding the stack, outward from the stack with a pickingmember, wherein the first document is moved from the stack in generallya first direction in a transport path; (c) engaging a document with astripper member, whereby the first document is generally separated fromthe other documents in the stack; (d) sensing a position of a first sideedge surface of the first document with a sensing device, wherein thefirst side edge surface bounds the document and extends generally alongthe first direction; (e) subsequent to step (d), moving a catchingdevice to a document engagement position to engage the documentresponsive to the position of the side edge surface sensed in step (d),wherein the catching device is moved to the engagement position prior toengagement with the document, and wherein the catching device isoperative to move the engaged document to a position in the transportpath generally transversely from the engagement position.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises splaying a stack ofdocuments in an automated banking machine by engaging the stack againstan angled surface in the machine, and further comprising engaging adocument with a stripper member, whereby the first document is generallyseparated from the other documents in the stack.
 21. Apparatus in anautomated banking machine comprising: a stack moving device, wherein thestack moving device is adapted to move a stack comprising a plurality ofdocuments into generally abutting engagement with a wall surface,wherein engagement of the stack with the wall surface is operative tosplay the documents in the stack; a picking member, wherein the pickingmember is selectively movable and is positioned to be engageable with afront face of a first document bounding the stack, and wherein thepicking member is operative when the first document is engaged therewithto move the first document in generally a first direction; a strippermember, wherein the stripper member is disposed adjacent the pickingmember and configured such that when the picking member moves the firstdocument in the first direction, the stripper member engages a back faceof the first document generally opposed of the front face, wherein thepicking member and the stripper member are arranged such that the firstdocument is generally separated from other documents in the stack; asensing device, wherein the sensing device is operative to sense aposition of a first side edge surface bounding documents moved from thestack, wherein the side edge surface extends generally along in thefirst direction; a catching device, wherein the catching device isgenerally transversely movable, and wherein the catching device isoperative to engage documents moved from the stack; and a control systemin operative connection with the sensing device and the catching device,wherein the control system is operative to move the catching device to adocument engagement position to engage a document moved from the stackresponsive to the position of the side edge surface sensed by thesensing device, wherein the control system is operative to move thecatching device to the engagement position prior to engagement with thedocument, and wherein the catching device is adapted to move the engageddocument to a position generally transversely from the engagementposition.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the stackmoving device includes a stack supporting surface, wherein the stacksupporting surface is configured to support the stack at a side of thestack opposed of the first document, and wherein the wall surfaceextends generally in an angled direction, wherein the angled directionis both away from the stack supporting surface and in the firstdirection.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the wallsurface comprises a plurality of steps, wherein each step includes afirst step surface extending in generally the first direction.
 24. Theapparatus according to claim 21 and further comprising a plurality ofpicking members, wherein the picking members are disposed from oneanother in a direction generally transverse to the first direction, andwherein a first stripper member is disposed transversely intermediate ofa pair of immediately transversely adjacent picking members.
 25. Theapparatus according to claim 24 wherein the pair of picking membersinclude a first document engaging surface facing in generally a firstface direction, wherein the first document engaging surface is adaptedto engage the front surface of the first document in the stack, andwherein the first stripper member intermediate of the pair of pickingmembers includes a second document engaging surface facing in generallya second face direction, wherein the second document engaging surface isconfigured to engage the back face of the first document when the firstdocument is moved from the stack, wherein the second document engagingsurface extends in the second face direction beyond the first documentengaging surface, whereby a wave configuration is imparted to the firstdocument as it is moved from the stack.
 26. The apparatus according toclaim 25 and further comprising a plurality of first stripper members,wherein one first stripper member is disposed transversely intermediatebetween pairs of immediately transversely adjacent picking members. 27.The apparatus according to claim 24 and further comprising at least onestripper member in generally abutting opposed relation with at least onepicking member.
 28. The apparatus according to claim 25 and furthercomprising a second stripper member in generally abutting opposedrelation with a picking member, and wherein the second stripper memberincludes a third document engaging surface facing in generally thesecond face direction, and wherein the third document engaging surfaceis configured to engage the back face of the first document when thefirst document is moved in the first direction from the stack, andwherein when the picking member moves so that the first document ismoved from the stack the third document engaging surface is disposed inthe first face direction from the first document engaging surface. 29.The apparatus according to claim 27 and further comprising a pair ofgenerally transversely disposed second stripper members, each secondstripper member in generally abutting opposed relation with a respectiveone of the picking members, and wherein a first stripper member ispositioned transversely intermediate of the second stripper members. 30.The apparatus according to claim 21 and further comprising a back stop,wherein the back stop is selectively positionable on a side of the stackgenerally opposed of the wall surface.
 31. The apparatus according toclaim 21 wherein the stack moving device includes a stack supportingsurface, wherein the stack supporting surface supports the stack at anend generally opposed of the first document, and further comprising adrive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is selectively operative tomove the stack supporting surface toward the picking member.
 32. Theapparatus according to claim 31 wherein the wall surface includes anelongated slot extending therein, and wherein the stack supportingsurface includes a projection, and wherein the projection extends in theslot, and wherein the projection moves relative to the slot as the stacksupporting surface moves towards the picking member.
 33. The apparatusaccording to claim 21 and further comprising: a thickness sensingdevice, wherein the thickness sensing device is operative to sense athickness of documents moved from the stack by the picking member; andwherein the control system is in operative connection with the thicknesssensing device and the picking member, wherein the control system isoperative to move the picking member in a second direction opposed ofthe first direction responsive to the thickness sensing device sensingthat the thickness of the first document is greater than a predeterminedthickness.
 34. The apparatus according to claim 31 and furthercomprising: a thickness sensing device, wherein the thickness sensingdevice is operative to sense a thickness of documents moved from thestack by the picking member; and wherein the control system is inoperative connection with the thickness sensing device, the pickingmember and the stack drive mechanism, wherein the control system isoperative responsive to the thickness sensing device sensing that thethickness of the first document moved from the stack is greater than anamount, to first operate to cause the stack drive mechanism to move thestack away from the picking member and then move the picking member in adirection opposed of the first direction, whereby the first document isgenerally returned to the stack.
 35. The apparatus according to claim 34wherein the control system is further operative after the first documentis moved in the opposed direction by the picking member, to cause thestack drive mechanism to move the stack toward the picking member and tocause the picking member to again move in the first direction.
 36. Theapparatus according to claim 21 and further comprising: a documentsensing device, wherein the document sensing device is disposed ingenerally the first direction from the picking member, wherein thedocument sensing device is operative to sense documents moved from thestack; a transport operatively adjacent to the picking member, whereinthe transport is operative to move documents generally one at a timetherein; and wherein the control system is in operative connection withthe document sensing device, the transport and the picking member,wherein the control system is operative to move the picking member toprovide a stream of separated single documents moving in the transport.37. The apparatus according to claim 36 and further comprising apositioning device in operative connection with the transport, whereinthe positioning device is operative to generally uniformly position eachof the documents in the stream.
 38. The apparatus according to claim 21wherein the machine comprises a machine housing having an openingtherein, wherein the opening is machine user accessible, wherein thestack moving device is adapted to move the stack in the first directionfrom a location adjacent the housing opening to the wall surface. 39.The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the sensing device isoperative to sense positions of pairs of generally opposed side edgesurfaces, and wherein the control system is operative to cause thecatching device to move responsive to the position of each of the sideedge surfaces in a pair bounding a document.
 40. The apparatus accordingto claim 39 wherein the catching device is moved responsive to thecontrol system to a transverse position, wherein in the transverseposition the catching device engages the document in generally centeredrelation relative to the pair of sensed side edge surfaces.
 41. A methodcomprising (a) splaying a stack of documents in an automated bankingmachine by engaging the stack against an angled wall surface in themachine; (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of afirst document bounding the stack; (c) moving the picking member,wherein the first document moves from the stack in generally a firstdirection in engagement with the picking member; (d) engaging a backface of the first document with a stripper member as the first documentmoves in the first direction, whereby the first document is generallyseparated from the other documents in the stack; (e) moving a back stopto a position adjacent to the stack, wherein the stack is disposedbetween the angled wall surface and the back stop, wherein the backstopis adapted to be moved to the adjacent position after the stack movespast the adjacent position, and wherein the positioned back stop isoperative to prevent a document from falling out of the backstop-side ofthe splayed stack.
 42. A method comprising (a) splaying a stack ofdocuments in an automated banking machine by engaging the stack againstan angled wall surface in the machine by moving the stack in a firstdirection; (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of afirst document bounding the stack, wherein the first document includes apair of transversely opposed side edge surfaces, wherein each side edgesurface bounds the first document and extends generally along the firstdirection; (c) moving the picking member to move the first document fromthe stack in the first direction in engagement with the picking member;(d) engaging a back face of the first document with a stripper member asthe first document moves in the first direction, whereby the firstdocument is generally separated from the other documents in the stack;(e) sensing a position of the first side edge surfaces with a sensingdevice; and (f) moving a catching device to engage the first document inresponse to the position sensed in step (e), wherein the catching deviceis operative to catch the first document in generally centered relationbetween the side edge surfaces, wherein the catching device is operativeto angularly rotate the first document, and wherein the catching deviceis operative to move the first document in a direction generallytransverse to the first direction.
 43. The method according to claim 41and further comprising uniformly positioning each document moved fromthe stack.
 44. Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising: atleast one picking member, wherein the picking member includes a firstdocument engaging surface; at least one stripper member, wherein thestripper member includes at least one second document engaging surfacein generally opposed adjacent relation with the first document engagingsurface; a stack including a plurality of documents, wherein the stackincludes a first end, and wherein the first end is adjacent the firstand second document engaging surfaces, wherein the first end of thestack is bounded by a first document, wherein the first documentcontacts the first and second document engaging surfaces; a drive,wherein the drive is operative to move the picking member relative tothe stripper member, wherein the picking member is operative to pick thefirst document from the stack in a first direction, and wherein thefirst document is adapted to move in the first direction generally inengagement with the relatively moving picking member as the remainder ofthe plurality of documents are maintained by the stripper member; asensor and a take away device, wherein the take away device is operativeto engage the first document when a portion of the first document is inthe stack and another portion of the first document is moved in thefirst direction beyond the stripper member, wherein the sensor isoperative to sense a document thickness, wherein the sensor is disposedintermediate of the stripper member and the take away device, andwherein the take away device is in operative connection with the sensorand is operative responsive to the sensor sensing only a single documentthickness to completely displace the first document from the stack;wherein the drive is in operative connection with the sensor and isoperative responsive to the sensor sensing more than the single documentthickness to move the picking member to move the first document in adirection opposed of the first direction, wherein the first document isreturned to the stack; a selectively movable backstop adapted to bepositioned adjacent a side of the stack, wherein the backstop isoperative to prevent a returned document from falling out of thebackstop-side of the stack.
 45. The apparatus according to claim 44 andfurther comprising at least one further document engaging surfaceoperative to impart a transverse cross sectional wave configuration tothe first document, wherein the apparatus further comprises twotransversely disposed picking members, each cooperating with a generallyopposed stripper member, and wherein the further surface is disposedtransversely intermediate between the picking and stripping members. 46.The apparatus according to claim 44 and further comprising twotransversely disposed further document engaging surfaces, wherein thegenerally opposed picking and stripper members are disposed transverselybetween the further surfaces.
 47. The apparatus according to claim 44and further comprising at least one further document engaging surfaceoperative to impart a transverse cross sectional wave configuration tothe first document, wherein at least one of the first document engagingsurface, second document engaging surface and further document engagingsurface includes a surface of a rotatable roll.
 48. The apparatusaccording to claim 57 and further comprising a wall surface, wherein thewall surface includes an elongated slot extending therein, and whereinthe stack supporting surface is in operative connection with aprojection, and wherein the projection extends in the slot, and whereinthe projection moves relative to the slot as the stack supportingsurface moves towards the picking member.
 49. The apparatus according toclaim 44 wherein the drive is in operative connection with the sensorand is operative responsive to the sensor sensing more than the singledocument thickness adjacent thereto to move the picking member in adirection opposed of the first direction, wherein the another portion ofthe document is moved in the opposed direction into engagement with thestripper member.
 50. Apparatus in an automated banking machinecomprising a stack moving device, wherein the stack moving device isadapted to move a stack comprising a plurality of documents intogenerally abutting engagement with a splaying surface; a picking member,wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned tobe engageable with a front face of a first document bounding the stack,and wherein the picking member is operative when the first document isengaged therewith to move the first document in generally a firstdirection; a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposedadjacent the picking member and configured such that when the pickingmember moves the first document in the first direction, the strippermember engages a back face of the first document generally opposed ofthe front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member arearranged such that the first document is generally separated from otherdocuments in the stack; a take away device, wherein the take away deviceis operative to engage the first document when a portion of the firstdocument is in the stack and another portion of the first document ismoved in the first direction beyond the stripper member; a thicknesssensing device, wherein the thickness sensing device is operative tosense a thickness of documents moved from the stack by the pickingmember, wherein the thickness sensing device is disposed intermediate ofthe stripper member and the take away device; a pre-centering sensingdevice, wherein the pre-centering sensing device is disposed ingenerally the first direction from the take away device, wherein thepre-centering sensing device is operative to sense the position ofopposed side edges of the documents moved from the stack, wherein eachside edge surface bounds the first document and extends generally alongthe first direction; a document sensing device, wherein the documentsensing device is disposed in generally the first direction from thepicking member, wherein the sensing device is operative to sense if adocument was moved in the first direction from the stack; a transportoperatively adjacent to the picking member, wherein the transport isoperative to move documents generally one at a time therein; and acontrol system in operative connection with the thickness sensingdevice, the pre-centering sensing device, the document sensing device,the transport, and the picking member, wherein the control system isoperative to move the picking member to provide a stream of separatedsingle documents moving in the transport.
 51. The apparatus according toclaim 50 including a splaying surface, wherein the splaying surfacecomprises an angled surface, wherein engagement of the stack with theangled surface is operative to splay the plurality of documents.
 52. Theapparatus according to claim 50 including a splaying surface, whereinthe splaying surface comprises a wall surface, wherein engagement of thestack with the wall surface is operative to splay the plurality ofdocuments.
 53. The apparatus according to claim 52 wherein the wallsurface comprises a stepped wall surface.
 54. The apparatus according toclaim 52 wherein engagement of the stack with the wall surface isoperative to splay the plurality of documents prior to the pickingmember moving the first document.
 55. The apparatus according to claim52 wherein engagement of the stack with the wall surface is operative tosplay the plurality of documents prior to the stripper member engagingthe first document.
 56. The method according to claim 41 and furthercomprising supporting the stack with a stack supporting member, whereinthe angled wall surface includes an elongated slot extending therein,and wherein the stack supporting member includes a projection, andwherein the projection extends in the slot, and further comprisingmoving the projection relative to the slot while moving the stacksupporting member towards the picking member.
 57. Apparatus in anautomated banking machine comprising a stack supporting surface, whereinthe stack supporting surface is adapted to support a stack at an endgenerally opposed of a first document bounding the stack, wherein thestack supporting surface is adapted to urge a stack comprising aplurality of documents to move in a first direction into generallyabutting engagement with a wall surface, wherein engagement of the stackwith the wall surface is operative to splay the documents in the stack;a picking member, wherein the picking member is selectively movable andis positioned to be engageable with a front face of the first document,and wherein movement of the picking member is operative when the firstdocument is engaged therewith to move the first document in generallythe first direction; a stripper member, wherein the stripper member isdisposed adjacent the picking member and configured such that when thepicking member moves the first document in the first direction, thestripper member engages a back face of the first document generallyopposed of the front face, wherein the picking member and the strippermember are arranged such that the first document is generally separatedfrom other documents in the stack; a drive mechanism, wherein the drivemechanism is operative to move the stack supporting surface in a seconddirection generally transversely to the first direction toward thepicking member.
 58. Apparatus in an automated banking machinecomprising: a stack moving device, wherein the stack moving device isadapted to move a stack comprising a plurality of documents intogenerally abutting engagement with a wall surface; a picking member,wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned tobe engageable with a front face of a first document bounding the stack,and wherein the picking member is operative when the first document isengaged therewith to move the first document in generally a firstdirection; a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposedadjacent the picking member and configured such that when the pickingmember moves the first document in the first direction, the strippermember engages a back face of the first document generally opposed ofthe front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member arearranged such that the first document is generally separated from otherdocuments in the stack; a sensing device, wherein the sensing device isoperative to sense positions of pairs of generally opposed side edgesurfaces bounding documents moved from the stack, wherein the side edgesurfaces extend generally along in the first direction; a catchingdevice, wherein the catching device is generally transversely movable,and wherein the catching device is operative to engage documents movedfrom the stack; and a control system in operative connection with thesensing device and the catching device, wherein the control system isoperative to cause the catching device to move to engage documents movedfrom the stack, and wherein the control system is operative to cause thecatching device to move responsive to the positions sensed by thesensing device.
 59. A method comprising the steps of: (a) operating astack supporting surface to cause a stack of documents in an automatedbanking machine to move in a generally first direction to generate asplayed stack of documents, wherein operation of the stack supportingsurface is adapted to urge the stack to move in generally the firstdirection; (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of afirst document bounding the splayed stack; (c) moving the pickingmember, wherein the first document moves from the stack in generally thefirst direction in engagement with the picking member; (d) moving thestack supporting surface, with a splayed stack supported thereon, in asecond direction generally transversely to the first direction.
 60. Themethod according to claim 59 wherein the stack supporting surfaceincludes at least one belt.